What is Massage Therapy?

If you think massage is only for relaxation, think again. Know the basics of massage therapy, its health benefits, and what to expect from it.

In the past, only high end spa centers and luxury health clubs offer massage services. Good news is, massage therapy is now widely accepted as preventive and therapeutic method for certain medical conditions. You can see massage therapy establishments everywhere, big and small, in every city and locality. Massage is significantly being incorporated with conventional medical treatment for disorders and diseases as supporting and alternative therapy.

Studies have shown that massage is highly effective for relief of pain and physical and emotional stress. Most of the people who go to massage therapists do so to relax, detoxify, reduce stress, rehabilitate sports-related injuries, heal from depression and anxiety, or to simply feel invigorated.

History of Massage

Massage actually existed hundreds to thousands of years ago. Hippocrates even described medicine as "the art of rubbing." Massage already appeared in ancient literatures of India, Japan, Rome, China, and the Middle East among others.

In the Renaissance period, massage had been widely used in Europe. Two American doctors who graduated in Sweden where they learned about massage therapy introduced it in the US where it easily gained popularity and was utilized for certain health conditions. However in the 1930's, use of massage therapy dwindled in America due to progressive advancement in medical treatment technology and modalities. Fortunately in 1970's, massage was used again particularly by the athletes.

Types of Massage

As each person has his unique therapeutic needs every single day, massage therapy offers a vast range of techniques to choose from. Each kind has its individualized goal, procedure, pressure type, and areas of focus. Below are just 3 of the numerous kinds of massage therapy.

Trigger Point Therapy
A trigger point is a taut portion in a muscle tissue which can cause pain in other areas of the body. Trigger point therapy targets this source of pain by applying adequate pressure and release.

Swedish Massage
This is one of the most popular type of massage which is comprised of long steady kneading, rubbing, vibration, tapping, and deep circular movements that help relieve pain, reduce stress, energize, invigorate, and promote relaxation.

Sports Massage
This is actually much like Swedish massage, but it is designed for individuals involved in sports and recreational activities to help avoid or treat injuries. It offers different kinds of approach and specific technique according to the sport you are involved in.

If you are consulting a doctor for any medical condition you have, it is important to let the doctor know any alternative or complementary practices you do, such as massage therapy. This is to make sure that both treatment methods complement each other rather than opposing each other.

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