A friction control device (44) is adapted to induce a lateral strain (or stretching) within a human tissue surface to which the device is applied, in order thereby to reduce the static friction between the device and the human tissue surface. The strain is induced by means of an actuator arrangement adapted to effect a relative separation of a plurality of contact surface regions (40) of the device, such that when said regions are pressed onto the receiving surface, the relative separation induces a strain in at least the region of the receiving surface falling between the locations of the applied regions. The extent of separation matches or exceeds the minimum extent necessary to overcome static friction.