Raindrops: A Gentle Percussion Massage Stroke
by C. Sue Furman, Ph.D.Percussion massage strokes were originally known as tapotement, from the French verb tapoter which means to rap, drum, or pat. The very gentle and at the same time stimulating Percussion stroke called raindrops does not at all seem to rap or drum on the dog. The next time you have an opportunity, listen to the whisper soft landing of very gentle rain against your windowpane. This is reminiscent of the raindrops stroke and should serve as an inspiration as you practice and use the technique. As one finger after another gently makes contact, the calming rhythm of raindrops relaxes, and its soft touch leaves one tingling. This move conveys a quite unique and very pleasant sensation that is great for relief of tension.
Most people enjoy practicing the raindrops technique on themselves to better understand what their dog is experiencing. Relax and sit quietly in a chair. Place one hand near your head. Starting with the pad of the little finger of your raised hand, tap your head very lightly. Follow this touch with contact from the next three fingers in a rhythmic succession. There should be no hesitation between the tap of the fourth finger and the second tap by the little finger. The continuous movement of alternating fingerfalls should create a rhythmic pattern that mimics gentle raindrops falling on your head. Do you feel the tingle?
Many dogs seem to enjoy raindrops on their face and head. To see what your dog thinks, place one hand on your dog and place the other nearby. Gently begin the raindrops technique near his nose. Each fingertip should touch the dog lightly at a slightly different time. Work your way along the muzzle toward the cheek, over the head and around the ear (Fig.1). The movement should be slow and uninterrupted. The continuous movement of alternating fingerfalls should create a rhythmic pattern that mimics gentle raindrops falling on his head. Repeat the pattern on the other side of the face and head. Raindrops is a very light stroke that imparts light but excitatory stimulation virtually anywhere on the body.
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| Figure 1a | Figure 1b | Figure 1c |
Figure 1. The thenar eminence and side of the thumb rest gently on a dog when the raindrops stroke is delivered. The gentle taps are delivered with one finger at a time beginning with the little finger (a) followed in succession by the remaining fingers (b-c). Once all four have landed, they are raised as one and the raindrop stroke is repeated.
Dr. C. Sue Furman, Ph.D.
www.HolisticTouchTherapy.com
This article is excerpted from Canine Massge for the Athlete Every Dog© and appeared in the December 2012 issue of the Holistic Touch Therapy Newsletter.