Massage therapy is defined as the manipulation of muscle and other connective tissue to enhance the function of those tissues, to promote relaxation, and improve well-being within the individual. Therapeutic massage is known to help to ease tension and reduce pain throughout the body.
In professional settings massage therapy involves the client being treated while lying on a massage table, sitting in a massage chair, or lying on a mat on the floor. This may depend on the type of massage therapy chosen.
Most commonly massage therapy is carried out with the use of hands but pressure can also be applied with the use of elbows, knees, forearms, and feet. This often depends on the style of massage that is selected by the client.
Historically, massage has been around for a long time. Writings and paintings featuring massage have been found in many ancient civilizations including civilizations in Rome, Greece, India, Japan, China, Egypt, and Mesopotamia.
In the modern world, massage therapy started to become popular in the United States in the middle part of the 1800s. Originally it was introduced by two New York physicians.
These doctors believed in Per Henrik Ling's techniques which were developed in Sweden and started offering the healing art of massage to their patients.Around the 1970s, massage's influence grew once again among athletes in the United States.
Massage within sports is used to relax athletes, in hopes, that it will decrease the likelihood of injuries. Massage also is used to help athletes heal sore muscles and other injuries that they have already sustained.
There are many different styles and types of massage therapy. Here are a few examples of the various kinds found throughout the world.
One type of massage therapy is called acupressure, which is a blend of acupuncture and pressure to form a unique massage. Acupressure is a traditional Chinese medicine technique derived from Chinese acupuncture.
In acupressure, physical pressure is applied to acupuncture points throughout the body by the hand, elbow, or sometimes with other various devices.
Another type of massage therapy is called Balinese massage. This technique is often considered gentler and makes the patient feel extremely relaxed and calm throughout the massage.
The main techniques include skin rolling, kneading, stroking, etc. The massage therapist applies aromatherapy oil throughout this type of massage.
A patient's blood, oxygen and energy flow is said to increase as a result of this treatment. Balinese hot stones are often an added option to this type of massage.
Deep tissue massage is another common type of massage therapy. Deep tissue massage is designed to relieve severe tension in the muscle and the connective tissue.
This type of massage focuses on the muscles located below the surface of the top muscles. Deep tissue massage is recommended for individuals who experience consistent pain, are involved in heavy physical activity, and patients who have sustained physical injury.
Many athletes receive deep tissue massage. It is not uncommon to become sore or even bruised over the next few days, though there should be no pain to the client during a session if the therapist is doing the work correctly.
Reflexology, another type of massage therapy, is based on the principle that there are reflexes in the hands and feet that control many functions within the body. There is a belief that these reflexes relate to every organ, gland, and system of the body.
This style of massage is thought to help the whole body heal even though the actual massage is only done to the hands and feet.
Shiatsu is another type of massage therapy. Shiatsu is an oriental therapy that uses pressure applied with thumbs, fingers and palms.
It incorporates stretching as a form of therapy, but it also includes techniques such as rolling, and brushing.
Stone massages are a popular type of massage therapy. A stone massage uses cold or water-heated stones to apply pressure and heat to the body.
Sometimes the stones coated in oil can also be used by the therapist delivering various massaging strokes. The hot stones used, in stone massages, are commonly river stones which over time have become extremely polished and smooth.
As the stones are placed along the recipient's back, they help to retain heat which then deeply penetrates into the muscles helping to release tension. Some of the benefits of massage therapy include pain relief, reduced anxiety, reduced depression, and temporarily reduced blood pressure and heart rate.
Through the use of different massage techniques it is easy to find one that could benefit various types of people.
Author Resource:-
Jack R. Landry has worked at a day spa for the last 9 years and written hundreds of articles about day spas and Orem Utah massage.
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