Which massage movement should every massage begin and end with?

Effleurage is the correct choice for the massage movement that should begin and end every massage. This technique involves long, gliding strokes that are typically performed with the palms of the hands. It serves multiple important purposes in a massage setting.

Firstly, effleurage promotes relaxation and helps to establish a connection between the client and the therapist. Starting a massage with this technique allows the client to become accustomed to the therapist's touch and sets a calming tone for the session. Additionally, effleurage is beneficial for warming up the muscles, preparing them for deeper work that may follow.

At the end of the massage, effleurage helps to gently bring the client back to a state of awareness, providing a soothing conclusion to the treatment. This movement allows the therapist to assess how the client’s body has responded during the session, ensuring that the overall experience remains comfortable and positive.

While other techniques such as petrissage, frictions, and tapotement have their own valuable applications within specific contexts of a massage, they do not carry the same foundational role as effleurage. Petrissage focuses on kneading and squeezing muscles, frictions involve small circular movements to increase circulation in specific areas, and tapotement consists of rhythmic percussive movements.