Cross Fiber Friction Massage
Cross Fiber Friction Massage is a fancy term for a boring technique that is very effective!
I use it on muscles, tendons and ligaments to support the healing of torn fibers. Common injuries such as tennis elbow, rotator cuff tears, and Achilles’ Tendinitis are the result of underlying tears in the muscle, tendons, and/or ligaments.
When these tissue fibers tear, the body responses making an “emergency scar” to hold what is left together and to stem bleeding. The resulting scar can be easily broken, leaving a weak spot in the tissue. Cross Fiber Friction massage helps to align the fibers so that the new tissue is a strong, “working” scar.
Detail of cross fiber friction massage
How to apply this technique:
- Once you locate the site of injury perform the massage for only a few minutes.
- Pressure in one direction only.
- Every other day at the most – more is not better.
- Give the tissues time to rearrange and heal in between massage sessions.
James Cyriax, MD, considered the originator of modern Orthopedic Medicine, originated this type of work. By using orthopedic evaluation techniques, we can pinpoint the precise location of injury in muscle, tendon or ligament tissues. Using cross fiber friction massage we encourage the healing of the tissues. By healing the tissues with massage, surgery, in some cases, can be avoided
Showing this to hubby for his rotator cuff injury! Thank you very much Cindy
[…] Cross Fiber Friction technique is a great method to support the healing of tendonitis anywhere in the body. It is used for both chronic and acute inflammation of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments with great success. […]
Probably the clearest explanation I’ve ever read as to what happens in tissue after an injury. Great job, Cindy.