Is friction massage not a bit oldfashioned ?
On the contrary ! First we have to establish where exactly we have to perform the friction massage ; the interpretation of our clinical examination will be decisive. Our main purpose is to influance in a positive way the scar formation/healing during the inflammatory phase, repair phase or remodelling phase. This specific to the point mobilization is very helpful. It can and should be combined with a home-exercise program ; again a nice McKenzie-link. This friction massage can even be used as a diagnostic tool: e.g. there is doubt between a chronic subdeltoid bursitis in the shoulder and a superficial, tenoperiostal lesion of the supraspinatus –> perform 5 minutes of “test-friction” on the supraspinatus and immediately after that, repeat the positive tests from the examination. If there is a clear difference compared to the beginning, then you can exclude the bursa as the culprit. –> Conclusion : if used properly, it can be very actual instead of “oldfashioned”.
