Massage Therapy Journal Spring 2026

30 • Massage Therapy Journal

T his course includes massage protocols for facial massage, Indian head massage, and massage for Bell’s palsy and acupressure for tinnitus. We will be delving deeper into how and where you may incorporate these expanded protocols into your massage sessions, as well as where a stand-alone session for facial massage may be in order.

• Corrugator supercilia: Draws the eyebrows down and in, as when frowning. • Depressor anguli oris: Pulls the angle of the mouth downward. • Epicranius frontalis: Raises eyebrows and causes the forehead to wrinkle. • Epicranius occipitalis: Located at the back of the head and draws the scalp posteriorly. • Mentalis: Raises and protrudes the lower lip, causing the chin to wrinkle. • Orbicularis oculi: Closes the eyelids and tightens the skin of the forehead. • Orbicularis oris: Compresses, contracts, puckers and wrinkles the lips. • Platysma: Depresses the lower jaw and lip, draws the angle of the mouth downward, and tightens and wrinkles the skin of the neck. • Procerus: Wrinkles the skin across the bridge of the nose. • Quadratus labii inferioris: Pulls the lower lip downward and a little to one side. • Levator labii superioris. Raises the upper lip and dilates the nostrils. • Risorius. Pulls the angle of the mouth out and back, like when smiling. • Zygomaticus. Raises the lip, like when laughing. Knowledge of the shape and function of the facial muscles is important so you can release the tension and pressure from your client’s face, as well as to stimulate blood flow to increase collagen and elastin, which might aid in a more youthful appearance. Structure of the Facial Bones The skull consists of two parts: the cranium, which has eight bones, and the face, which has 14 bones. From top to bottom, your facial bones include: nasal, lacrimal, palatine, inferior nasal concha, zygomatic, vomer, maxilla and the mandible. The facial bones support the many muscles and soft tissues of the face, head and neck. The form of your face is due to the shape of your facial skeleton .

Epicranius frontalis

Procerus

Corrugator supercilia

Orbicularis oculi

Levator labii superioris

Zygomaticus

Buccinator

Risorius

Depressor anguli oris

Orbicularis oris

Quadratus labii inferioris

Mentalis

AMTA Continuing Education

However, before considering adding options for facial massage approaches and techniques into your massage sessions, massage therapists must have a solid understanding of the anatomy of the human face. So, let’s begin with the facial muscles. There are 43 muscles in the face that work together. They are essential to chewing and making facial expressions, such as smiling, pouting or raising your eyebrows in surprise. Following are some of the 43 facial muscles: • Buccinator: Compresses the cheeks and expels air between the lips.

lonesomebunny / Shutterstock.com

amtamassage.org/mtj