College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) Practice Exam

Which Petrissage technique involves lifting and rolling muscle tissue?

1. Wringing

2. Muscle Squeezing

3. Picking Up

4. Muscle Stripping

The correct answer is: Picking Up

The technique that involves lifting and rolling muscle tissue is known as "Picking Up." This technique is characterized by the therapist grasping the muscle belly between the fingers and thumb, lifting it away from the underlying structures, and then gently rolling it. The primary purpose of this method is to facilitate relaxation and improve blood flow in the targeted areas, as it helps in breaking down adhesions and allowing for better mobility of the muscle fibers. Wringing, on the other hand, involves a different action that incorporates a back-and-forth or twisting motion applied to the muscle, which does not focus solely on the lifting aspect. Muscle squeezing typically involves compressing the muscle rather than the lifting and rolling movement central to Picking Up. Muscle stripping is a technique that concentrates on gliding along the length of the muscle, applying pressure to elongate the muscle fibers, which differentiates it from the more dynamic lifting and rolling motion of Picking Up.