The invention relates to a massage head which comprises a housing defining an inner chamber inside of which a skin fold is formed when the head is applied to the skin of a patient said fold coming into contact with the lower edges of the chamber. Said chamber is defined by two side walls (12 13) and by two transverse walls at least one of said transverse walls being made up of a valve (10) to which a pivoting movement can be imparted o as to move the lower edge (16) of said transverse walls towards and away from one another in contact with the skin fold. The valve (10) is hinged near the upper end thereof to the side walls (12 13). The pivoting of the valve (10) is obtained by means of a gear reducer mounted stationary inside said valve the output shaft of which drives the rotation of a cam held in a cam race rigidly secured to one of the side walls of the inner chamber.