What Is Massage Therapy?
Moving the body’s soft tissues to relieve stress, lessen muscular tension is massage, and encourage relaxation and general well-being is known as massage treatment. Trained massage therapists apply this hands-on approach.
The practice of it dates back thousands of years. There are currently over 80 different massage treatment types to select from, offering a wide range of pressures, motions, and techniques, if you’re in need of it. These all entail using the hands and fingers to manipulate, press, or muscles and other soft tissues. Even the feet, elbows, and forearms are employed occasionally.
In 2020, around 21% of Americans received it in some capacity, according to the American Massage Therapy Association. And there are a variety of motives for their actions. More and more individuals are becoming aware of it health advantages, particularly baby boomers. They select from a variety of it techniques to deal with specific medical ailments, enhance general wellbeing, relieve symptoms or treat injuries.
The following information will assist you in selecting the kind of massage that will be most beneficial to you.
Which Massage Styles Are Best?
It’s possible that you’ve noticed the varying popularity of massage types over time. You could have also questioned whether each was the newest and best massage method or just a fad. The subject of how to determine whether the newest fashion can genuinely benefit you is even more crucial.
In massage treatment, strokes can be quick and percussive or lengthy and gentle. Certain massage therapists apply lotions and oils; others don’t. While most massage therapists require their clients to undress for their services, some do not. The duration of a massage might range from five minutes to two hours.
Prior to determining which massage method is ideal for you, you must pose a question to yourself. Are you just looking for a massage to help you unwind and manage your stress? Or are you in need of assistance with a specific medical issue or symptom relief? Inform the massage therapist of your preferences and inquire about the therapist’s preferred style before making a reservation. Many people employ many styles. Your massage may be tailored by the therapist based on your age, health, and any particular requirements or objectives that you may have.
Types of Massage Therapy
Swedish massage
Swedish massage therapy is the most popular kind of massage treatment. It uses gentle, rhythmic tapping strokes on the outermost layers of muscles in addition to soft, lengthy kneading strokes. Joint motion is also incorporated into this. Swedish treatment has the potential to be both calming and invigorating by releasing tense muscles. It could even be beneficial following an injury.
- Effleurage: a flowing, silky motion used to ease soft tissue
2. Petrissage is the rolling, kneading, or squeezing that comes after effleurage.
Deep, circular motions called friction force tissue layers to rub against one another, promoting blood flow and promoting the breakdown of scar tissue.
3. Tapotement: a quick, alternating tap using the fingers, hands, or the palm of the hand cupped.
Deep tissue massage
For the best results, deep tissue massage is used to target certain tight, painful “trouble spots” in your body. The massage therapist applies pressure on layers of deep-lying muscles, tendons, or other tissues with slow, purposeful strokes. Deep tissue massage, while not as rhythmic as other massage modalities, may be beneficial in that it can help with back sprains and other muscular injuries as well as persistent patterns of stress.
Sports massage
Sports massage, which was created to assist with the muscular systems needed for a certain activity, employs a number of techniques to support players in their training—before, during, or after sporting events. It might be used to increase flexibility and lessen the risk of injury. Additionally, it could ease strained muscles and hasten the recovery process following a sports injury.
Chair massage
Have you ever attended a conference, music festival, or county fair and felt envious of those who were receiving chair massages? Or have you ever gone past the airport chair massage area? Alternatively, perhaps you’re fortunate enough to work for an organization that provides frequent 15- to 20-minute massages as a reward. Chair massages are administered while you’re seated in a mobile, custom-made chair and completely dressed. Typically, they include a massage of your hands, arms, shoulders, back, and neck.
Shiatsu massage
Shiatsu is a term for “finger pressure” in Japanese. When giving a shiatsu massage, the therapist applies different pressures in a rhythmic pattern to certain body spots. These are known as acupressure sites, and it is thought that the body’s chi, or life force, flows via these spots. Shiatsu massage, according to its supporters, can aid in clearing blockages at certain acupressure sites.
Thai massage
In a Thai massage, the therapist positions the patient in various ways using their own body. This kind of massage combines acupressure, joint mobilization, and muscular compression.
Hot stone massage
Warm stones are applied to certain body parts, such as acupressure points, by the massage therapist during this type of treatment. The stones can be temporarily left in situ or utilized as instruments for massage. As hot stones penetrate deep into the body, they may be extremely calming and relaxing when used in conjunction with other massage techniques.
Reflexology
Reflexology stimulates specific foot regions with palm, thumb, and finger movements. These regions are said to represent various bodily components. Thus, it is anticipated that the massage will enhance wellbeing.
Pregnancy massage
Major changes occur in your body throughout pregnancy. Reducing stress, lowering arm and leg edema, and soothing muscle and joint discomfort are all benefits of pregnancy massage. When medical choices, including medicine, are restricted, massage therapy may be very beneficial. The massage therapist will assist you in finding a suitable position for this kind of therapy by using specially made massage cushions.
Massage Benefits
Numerous massage modalities provide advantages beyond just repose. These are only a handful of the health issues that massage therapy may help with. But before utilizing massage for any medical ailment, see your physician.
- Sleep
- Immune function
- Constipation
- Anxiety
- Digestive disorders
- Nerve pain
- Postoperative care
- Scar tissue
- Soft tissue strains and injuries
- Sports injuries
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
Massage therapy and pain
back discomfort. Numerous studies have demonstrated the value of massage treatment in treating back pain.
ache. Massage treatment also works for headaches, which is another kind of discomfort. According to some research, receiving massage treatment can enhance sleep and lessen the frequency of migraine attacks.
arthritis of the bones. Participants in the first clinical experiment investigating the efficacy of Swedish massage for knee osteoarthritis reported improvements in pain, stiffness, and function after receiving an hour-long massage once or twice a week. There was no similar difference in the control group.
The fibromyalgia. Research indicates that massage treatment can alleviate symptoms including pain, anxiety, and sadness in as little as five weeks.
Massage therapy and cancer
Cancer. As an adjunct to conventional Western medicine, massage therapy can induce relaxation and lessen treatment-related side effects or symptoms of cancer. It may enhance immune system performance and lessen pain, edema, weariness, nausea, or depression. But there are occasions when massage should be avoided completely, as well as certain places that a massage therapist should avoid when working with a cancer patient. If you have cancer, see your physician before beginning massage treatment.