Final answer:
Deep rubbing massages stimulate Pacinian corpuscles, nerve endings sensitive to deep pressure and vibration in the dermis or subcutaneous tissue, alongside Merkel cells and Ruffini corpuscles, which detect vibrations and skin stretching respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
A deep rubbing massage movement where pressure is applied while moving over an underlying structure is associated with the stimulation of Pacinian corpuscles.
These sensors are encapsulated nerve endings that are sensitive to deep pressure and vibration. They are located deep in the dermis or subcutaneous tissue and can detect pressure changes and vibrations by being compressed, which stimulates their internal dendrites.
Pacinian corpuscles, along with other mechanoreceptors such as Merkel cells and Ruffini (or bulbous) corpuscles, play a crucial role in the sensory aspect of massage therapy. Merkel cells, or type I cutaneous mechanoreceptors located in the stratum basale of the epidermis, detect low-frequency vibrations. In contrast, the Ruffini corpuscles detect skin stretching.