| Massage therapy covers a large group of | | | | There are many reasons why people use this |
| techniques and practices. Did you know that over | | | | therapy. Most of these are health related issues |
| 80 types of massage exist? In all of these kinds | | | | such as: the relief of pain, stress, to rehabilitate |
| of massage, the therapist presses, rubs and | | | | sports injuries, increase relaxation, aid in the |
| manipulates the muscles and some of the other | | | | feeling of general wellness and help in the areas of |
| soft body tissues using varying movement and | | | | depression and anxiety. |
| pressure. | | | | There are some other reasons that scientists |
| Most therapists use their hands and fingers, but | | | | may feel that massage therapy is beneficial: |
| some may use their elbows, forearms or feet. | | | | 1. Changes occur in the muscles of the body |
| The main purpose of massage therapy is to relax | | | | when certain forces are applied to them. |
| the soft tissues and increase the delivery of | | | | 2. Massage therapy may help to block pain signals |
| oxygen and blood to the areas that have been | | | | that are sent to the brain. |
| massaged, warm them and thereby decrease | | | | 3. Massage may help to guide a person's nervous |
| pain. | | | | system away from the sympathetic and move it |
| Here are a few of the popular types of massage | | | | towards the parasympathetic. The sympathetic |
| therapy: | | | | nervous system is often referred to as the |
| 1. Swedish massage - In this type of therapy, the | | | | fight-or-flight response. The parasympathetic |
| therapist will use long strokes, knead and will use | | | | nervous system helps the heart rate and the |
| friction on the muscles. He or she will also move | | | | breathing to slow down and the person becomes |
| the joint to aid in their flexibility. | | | | more relaxed. |
| 2. Deep tissue massage - The therapist will use | | | | 4. Massage therapy may stimulate the release of |
| patterns of deep finger pressure and strokes on | | | | serotonin or endorphins(chemical). |
| different parts of the body where the muscles | | | | 5. Massage may help cause beneficial changes in |
| are knotted and tight. The therapist will focus on | | | | the body for example, the prevention of scar |
| layers of muscles that are deep under the skin. | | | | tissue formation and the increase of the flow of |
| 3. Trigger point massage - A variety of strokes | | | | lymph which help in the fight against disease. |
| are used by the therapist and deeper and more | | | | 6. Massage therapy may help to improve sleep. |
| focused pressure is applied on knots that will | | | | This plays a role in pain and in healing. |
| sometimes form in the muscles. These knots are | | | | 7. It may also provide a health benefit due to the |
| painful when they are pressed and can cause | | | | interaction between the patient and the therapist. |
| symptoms in other parts of the body. | | | | If you have never tried massage therapy, and if |
| 4. Shiatsu massage - Varying rhythmic pressures | | | | it is within your budget, then you may want to |
| are applied by the therapist from the fingers on | | | | give it a try. Perhaps you may experience some |
| different body parts that are important for the | | | | of the benefits that it has to offer. |
| flow of vital energy which is call qi. | | | | |