With minor modifications, most of the strokes you already use during table massage can be adapted for seated or chair massage. In this article, we’ll take a look at some specific Swedish massage techniques you can incorporate into your chair massage sessions.
1. Effleurage
In a regular Swedish massage, effleurage is used to warm the tissue and spread lubricant on the skin at the beginning of the massage. In seated massage, it is most often used as a finishing stroke to close a body area. Effleurage could also be applied up the arms with light strokes to the shoulders or from the ankles up the legs to the hips over clothing. Try applying effleurage to different body areas accessible in the massage chair, and practice transitioning the stroke from a nonclothed body area, like the arms, over sleeves to the back.
2. Petrissage
Petrissage feels good on the shoulders, posterior neck, and upper extremity during a seated massage. It is fatiguing for the therapist’s hands and so should be used in moderation during a busy day of sessions. In this image, petrissage is applied to the shoulders. Try applying petrissage to the shoulders; down the back; to the posterior neck, arms, and forearms; and to the thighs and legs over clothing. It can be more difficult to get hold of the tissue and lift it when applied over clothing, but it still feels enjoyable to the client.
3. Superficial Friction
Superficial friction is useful as a stroke to warm the tissue, even when applied over clothing. In this image, superficial friction is applied to the back. It can also be applied to the shoulders, upper extremity, and lower extremity. Practice applying superficial friction to all body areas that are accessible while the client is seated.    
4. Linear Friction
Friction strokes break up adhered tissue and reorganize collagen fibers into parallel patterns, allowing for greater range of motion. It is very useful in seated massage. In this image, the elbow is used to apply linear friction to the thoracic region. Try applying linear friction to all of the accessible areas of the body and over clothing. Use your elbows, fingers, knuckles, fists, and the ulnar edge of your hands.
5. Circular Friction
Circular friction moves the tissue in a circular motion to break up adhesions and release tension. This image shows circular friction applied up the forearm muscles with the fingers. (Because it is easy to overuse your fingers and thumbs during seated massage, try to use other “tools” whenever possible.) Try performing circular friction strokes to all of the accessible areas of the body over clothing using your knuckles, fists, thumbs, and fingers.
6. Vibration
Shaking, rocking, and jostling are forms of coarse vibration that are particularly useful during seated massage. This image shows a jostling vibration on the upper extremity. Try lifting a muscle like the trapezius and shaking it, or rolling the arm back and forth between your hands. Rock the client’s body back and forth in the massage chair.
7. Tapotement
Tapotement is easy to apply over clothing and feels invigorating in a seated massage. It should not be used directly after athletic activity because it stimulates the muscle spindle cells and may cause the muscles to cramp. Tapotement over the kidneys and floating ribs is contraindicated because these structures do not have sufficient protection when the stroke is applied with the client in a seated position. It is also avoided on boney areas, especially over the spine. In this image, the therapist has asked the client to sit up out of the face cradle while the hands are held in a prayer position to apply tapotement to the shoulders and down the upper extremity. It’s a good idea to have clients sit up out of the face cradle at the end of the session so they don’t feel lightheaded when they stand up to get out of the massage chair. Try using a variety of hand positions (hacking, cupping, beating, slapping, pincement, and tapping) and apply tapotement at a level comfortable to the client to all accessible body areas except over the kidneys and floating ribs.

Anne Williams is the director of education for Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals and author of Massage Mastery: from Student to Professional (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2012), and Spa Bodywork: A Guide for Massage Therapists (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006). She can be reached at anne@abmp.com.