A MASSAGE technique in which a part of the body is hit repeatedly and quickly with the hands. The technique is useful in helping patients with BRONCHITIS to loosen the MUCUS in the air passages of their lungs, thus helping them to cough it up.
n. a technique used in *massage in which a part of the body is struck rapidly and repeatedly with the hands. Tapotement of the chest wall in bronchitic patients often helps to loosen mucus within the air passages so that it can be coughed up.
n. manipulation of the soft tissues of the body with the hands. Massage is used to improve circulation, reduce oedema where present, prevent *adhesions in tissues after injury, reduce muscular spasm, and improve the tone of muscles. See also effleurage; petrissage; tapotement.... massage
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