Final answer:
The five basic Swedish massage strokes include effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement, and vibration, which work together to relax the body and ease muscle tension.
Step-by-step explanation:
Swedish massage is a popular therapeutic massage technique that aims to relax the entire body. This is not only done through the physical relaxation of muscles but also by promoting mental relaxation through a series of systematic strokes. The first stroke is effleurage, which involves soft, long, gliding strokes mainly used to warm up the muscles.
Next is petrissage, which encompasses kneading motions that compress and release muscle tissue to enhance deeper circulation. The third stroke, friction, is the use of deep, circular movements causing layers of tissue to rub against each other, helping to increase blood flow and break down scar tissue. The fourth stroke, tapotement, is a rhythmic tapping that employs the edges of the hands, and sometimes the fists, to invigorate the muscles. Finally, vibration or shaking techniques are used to loosen up the body. These strokes work synergistically to improve circulation, ease muscle tension, and enhance overall relaxation.