A Swedish fencing master originally developed Swedish massage in the late eighteenth century. It was based on European folk massage, oriental techniques from the Middle East and the available knowledge of anatomy and physiology. Swedish massage is the most widely practiced form of massage. It uses various hand motions - long smooth strokes, pressing and light pounding, "chopping" with the sides of the palms, tapping with the fingers, and kneading or friction techniques to get blood moving and to loosen contracted muscles. The primary goal of Swedish Massage is to speed the venous return of unoxygenated and toxic blood from the extremities and flush the tissues of lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes. It increases circulation without increasing heart load. It stretches the ligaments and tendons keeping them supple and young. Swedish Massage stimulates the skin and nervous system and soothes the nerves themselves.