What technique is primarily used to relieve muscle tension during a massage therapy session?

Petrissage is primarily used to relieve muscle tension during a massage therapy session due to its focused kneading and manipulation of the muscles. This technique involves various forms of kneading, squeezing, rolling, and lifting of the muscle tissue, which promotes blood circulation, relaxes muscles, and releases tension effectively.

Through the application of petrissage, therapists can target deeper muscle layers and muscle groups, allowing for a more profound release of tightness and discomfort, making it particularly beneficial for areas that harbor chronic tension. It is often interspersed with other massage techniques to achieve an overall relaxing and therapeutic effect on the patient.

The other techniques, while valuable in their own right, serve different purposes. Effleurage is primarily a gliding stroke that warms up the muscles and is often used at the beginning or end of a massage to promote relaxation. Tapotement involves rhythmic, percussive movements that stimulate the muscles and can be invigorating rather than relaxing. Frictions involve deeper pressure applied to specific points, often used to break down adhesions and scar tissue rather than to relieve overall muscle tension.