New Jersey State Board Esthetics Practice Exam

When massaging muscles, how should you position your strokes?

1. From origin to insertion

2. From insertion to origin

3. In circular motions

4. With a tapping technique

The correct answer is: From insertion to origin

When massaging muscles, positioning strokes from insertion to origin is a common practice because it aligns with the natural flow of muscle movement and promotes better circulation. The insertion point refers to where the muscle attaches to the movable bone, while the origin refers to where it attaches to the stationary bone. Massaging from insertion to origin helps in reducing tension in the muscle and allows for a more effective release of knots and tightness. This technique also assists in facilitating the return of blood flow towards the heart, promoting overall circulation. It creates a soothing effect on the muscles being massaged and enhances the effectiveness of lymphatic drainage, which is beneficial for reducing swelling and improving muscle recovery. In contrast, the other methods of stroke positioning, such as massaging from origin to insertion or using purely circular or tapping techniques, while they may have their own benefits, do not effectively optimize the benefits associated with muscle massage in the way that the insertion to origin approach does.