| There are dozens of massage therapy types and | | | | symptoms such as nausea, earache, equilibrium |
| techniques. Knowing what they are and what they | | | | disturbance or blurred vision. |
| do is sometimes confusing. It is hard to ask for a | | | | Trigger points generally occur in more than one |
| particular type of massage if you do not know | | | | location. Trigger points cause muscle shortening |
| what it is called or even what it will do for you. | | | | with secondary weakness and decreased range |
| Here we will try to break the mystery into an | | | | of motion, which can be observed. They can be |
| understandable list of some commonly practiced | | | | felt by palpating the muscles; trigger points will |
| massage types and what they do. | | | | consist of tender, hard (or ropy) knots or nodules |
| Massage | | | | surrounded by what feels like normal muscle |
| Massage is the practice of soft tissue manipulation | | | | tissue. |
| with physical, functional, and in some cases | | | | Trigger Point Therapy applies pressure to these |
| psychological purposes and goals. It involves acting | | | | points leading to immediate release of tension and |
| on and manipulating the client's body with pressure | | | | improved muscular functioning. The therapist |
| (structured, unstructured, stationary, and/or | | | | locates and deactivates `trigger points', which are |
| moving), tension, motion, or vibration done | | | | often tender areas where muscles have been |
| manually or with mechanical aids. Massage can be | | | | damaged or acquired a re-occurring spasm or |
| applied with the hands, fingers, elbows, forearm, | | | | `kink' that worsens painfully when aggravated. Due |
| and feet. | | | | to the location of many trigger points, performing |
| Massage can be performed by a massage | | | | trigger point therapy on yourself can be awkward |
| therapist, or by other health care professionals, | | | | at best, without the use of tools. Manipulating a |
| such as chiropractors, osteopaths, athletic trainers, | | | | trigger point elicits referred pain and often slight |
| and/or physical therapists. Massage therapists | | | | nausea. |
| work in a variety of medical and recreational | | | | Swedish Massage |
| settings and may travel to private residences or | | | | A Swedish massage is not related to the country |
| businesses. | | | | of Sweden, where massages are quite |
| Deep Tissue | | | | uncommon. Swedish massage, a lighter relaxing |
| Deep tissue massage uses deep muscle | | | | massage, aims to increase the oxygen flow in the |
| compression and friction along the grain of the | | | | blood and release toxins from the muscles. |
| muscle. Deep tissue massage is also called deep | | | | Swedish massage is perhaps the most well known |
| muscle therapy or deep tissue therapy. It is a | | | | type of massage. This soothing technique |
| massage technique that focuses on the deeper | | | | incorporates gliding, kneading and compressing |
| layers of muscle tissue and requires more skill and | | | | strokes, improving circulation and lymph flow. |
| strength than a Swedish massage. | | | | Swedish massage therapy is comprised of five |
| Deep tissue massage helps to break up and | | | | basic strokes and their variations: effleurage, |
| eliminate scar tissue. Deep connective tissue | | | | petrissage, friction, tapotement (or percussion) |
| massage is a form of intense massage that aims | | | | and vibration. |
| to release myofascial (connective tissue) | | | | These five basic stokes including long gliding |
| restrictions in the body, and to break up any | | | | strokes, kneading, friction, tapping, and shaking |
| restrictive scar tissue. | | | | motions on the more superficial layers of muscles, |
| Deeper strokes can also be used to break down | | | | generally in the direction of blood flow toward the |
| adhesion in muscle and connective tissue, which is | | | | heart are sometimes combined with active and |
| common after injury and in areas of body tension. | | | | passive movements of the joints. It is designed |
| Using deep muscle therapy tools allow both | | | | to increase circulation and blood flow. |
| patient and caregivers to apply the same kind of | | | | Swedish massage has shown to be helpful in |
| pressure to painful muscles as a regular part of | | | | reducing pain, joint stiffness, and improving |
| everyday self-care. | | | | function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. |
| Trigger Point Massage | | | | It relaxes the muscles and eases aches and pains. |
| Trigger Point utilizes ischemic compression of | | | | Swedish massage reflexology is a form of |
| individual areas of hypersensitivity in muscles, | | | | bodywork based on the theory of zone therapy, |
| ligaments, tendons and fascia. Also called a | | | | in which specific spots of the body are pressed to |
| pressure point massage, this involves stimulating | | | | stimulate corresponding areas in other parts of |
| hypothetical trigger points that may refer pain | | | | the body. |
| sensations to other parts of the body. These | | | | Swedish, Deep Tissue, Light and other massage |
| trigger points are defined by their referral of pain | | | | styles can be combined for a better quality and |
| to distant locations in muscles, connective tissues | | | | more relaxing experience. Heated or Hot Roman |
| and organs. Trigger points can present | | | | Stone Massage is massage bodywork utilizing |
| themselves as referred patterns of sensation | | | | Swedish massage techniques along with smooth |
| such as sharp pain, dull ache, tingling, pins and | | | | heated and or chilled river or ocean stones. |
| needles, hot or cold, as well as can create | | | | |