| What is massage therapy anyway? One thing we | | | | and relaxation |
| can say for sure is that it has become a fast | | | | Massage therapy is really a hands-on manipulation |
| growing profession. A couple of decades ago, you | | | | of soft tissues and joints of the body. The soft |
| never even heard of massage therapy. But since | | | | tissues include: |
| then interest has grown tremendously. Even | | | | - muscle |
| insurance companies understand and recognize the | | | | - skin |
| benefits of a skilled massage therapist. | | | | - tendon |
| The term massage therapy is used when talking | | | | - associated fascia |
| about health and healing practices that involve | | | | - ligaments |
| touch and movement. It is a profession in which | | | | - joint capsules |
| the therapist applies some manual techniques, and | | | | Although it largely affects those muscles just |
| may apply at adjunctive therapies. These | | | | under the skin, massage therapies benefits may |
| techniques when applied have the sole intention of | | | | also reach the deeper layers of muscle and |
| trying to positively affect the health and well-being | | | | possibly even the organs themselves. Massage |
| of the client. | | | | also stimulates blood circulation and assists the |
| So where did massage therapy come from? | | | | lymphatic system (which runs parallel to the |
| The word massage is most likely to have | | | | circulatory system), this helps to eliminate waste |
| emerged from the Greek word 'Massein', meaning | | | | thoughtout the body. |
| 'to knead' or the Arabic word 'mash' meaning 'to | | | | The purpose of massage therapy is to prevent, |
| press softly'. Massage is really the oldest form of | | | | develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical |
| physical medicine known to man. It can be traced | | | | function or relieve pain. It is also a clinically |
| all the way back to the early Chinese medical | | | | oriented health option with undeniable result in |
| manuscripts around 400BC. Hippocrates was | | | | relief from an array of discomforts that include |
| known to advocate massage. And he was born in | | | | stress, muscular overuse and many other chronic |
| the fifth century and was also known as "the | | | | pain syndromes. If employed early enough after |
| father of medicine". It was used and written | | | | accidents involving trauma and injury, massage |
| about in Roman times, with history recording Julius | | | | therapy can greatly reduce the development of |
| Caesar had received massage to help relieve | | | | painful muscular patterning. |
| neuralgia! | | | | What the massage therapist will do is press, |
| Massage therapy dates back thousands of years. | | | | stroke, rub to try and manipulate the muscles and |
| Ancient writings of many cultures have | | | | other soft tissue with particular focus on muscles |
| referenced the term massage. | | | | and pressure points. Pressing and kneading |
| They included: | | | | different areas of the body to relieve pain, relax, |
| - ancient Greek | | | | stimulate, and tone the body. This will often |
| - ancient Rome | | | | happen using various pressure and movement. |
| - China | | | | The therapist use their hands, fingers, forms, |
| - Japan | | | | elbows, and sometimes feet. |
| - Egypt | | | | With the goal to relax the soft tissues, help to |
| - Indian subcontinent | | | | increase the delivery of blood and oxygen to the |
| In the United States massage therapy became | | | | massaged areas, reduce tension, relax muscles, |
| popular for a variety of health purposes in about | | | | decrease pain and provide a sense of well-being |
| that mid 1800's. Around the 1930s and 1940s | | | | and relaxation. |
| massage therapy fell out of favor. This was | | | | Some of the popular types of massage are: |
| because of scientific and technological advances in | | | | - Swedish |
| medical treatments. Massage therapy interest | | | | - Deep tissue |
| was revived in the 1970s. Athletes were the one | | | | - Trigger point |
| who mainly used this form of therapy back then. | | | | - Reflexology |
| There are over 80 types of massage therapy. | | | | With the popularity in "massage" today, you |
| Most of the time what happens is when people | | | | should only get your massage from someone |
| find a method or two that they like, they will | | | | who uses the title "massage" (MT). This person |
| usually stick with their practitioner who use this | | | | has completed a diploma program at a recognized |
| form of therapy. Then there are times when | | | | school and has passed an examination. When you |
| people find a particular massage therapist that | | | | are out looking for a qualified therapist look for |
| makes them feel comfortable and that individual | | | | someone who uses a massage therapist (MT) or |
| will remain a loyal customer to this particular | | | | registered massage therapist (RMT) as their title. |
| massage therapist. | | | | When is a time when massage therapy is not the |
| The first thing that will happen is the massage | | | | right treatment? |
| therapist will review your symptoms and neeeds. | | | | If you suffer from certain circulatory ailments |
| They will then ask you questions about your | | | | (such as phlebitis), infectious diseases, certain |
| problem and conditions. | | | | forms of cancer, cardiac problems, certain skin |
| There are a variety of massage techniques that | | | | conditions, or any inflamed or infected tissues, be |
| are used to help with the following: | | | | sure to consult your physician before initiating any |
| - reduce tension and pain | | | | massage program. An experienced massage |
| - improve blood flow | | | | therapist will also be able to tell you when |
| - relax muscles and provide a sense of well-being | | | | massage is not indicated. |