Transverse Friction Massage is a method that broadens the fibrous tissue of muscles, tendons, or ligaments, breaking down unwanted fibrous adhesions and there by restoring mobility to muscles in a way that cannot be achieved by passive stretching or active exercise. Transverse Friction Massage retains its popularity today in physical therapy and massage therapy regimes as an effective treatment in restoration and rehabilitation of muscles injures.
Therapeutic massage is one of the oldest modalities known. Pressure and manipulation can be applied in many ways. Transverse friction massage (TFM) is pressure and manipulation applied perpendicular to the orientation of the fibers being treated.