Massage Therapy
Massage is one of the oldest healing arts. There are Chinese records that are 3,000 years old that
document its use. Also, the ancient Romans, Japanese, Chinese, and Egyptians used forms of massage for
many ailments. Even Hippocrates, the famous Greek physician (ca 460 BCE), wrote papers recommending the
use of rubbing and friction for joint and circulatory problems.*
Today, massage therapy is often part of prescribed physical therapy and physical rehabilitation
programs because it has proven to be beneficial for many chronic conditions. Patients request massage
for many health conditions in order to relieve stress, to treat medical conditions, and to help promote
general wellness. Massage therapy, or massage for short, refers to over 250 types of body work techniques.
Massage therapists press, rub, and do various types of manipulation of the muscles and other soft
tissues of the body with varying pressure and movement. They most often use their hands and fingers,
but may use their forearms, elbows, or feet. This manipulation can relax the soft tissues, can increase
blood and oxygen flow to the massaged areas to warm them, and to decrease pain.
Some massage techniques are:
- In Swedish massage, the therapist will use long strokes (effleurage), kneading, compression, and
friction on the superficial layers of muscles, and will move the joints to aid flexibility. Excellent
for increasing blood flow, alleviating muscle soreness, relieving stress and bringing one to a state
of relaxation.
- Sports massage focuses on tending to the muscles used for a particular sport, whether for relieving pain,
knots, or soreness. Focusing on tightness or knots in the deep layers of muscle, Deep Tissue massage
releases the chronic patterns of tension though slow strokes, deep finger pressure, or friction. This
modality uses greater pressure and at deeper levels than Swedish massage.
- Shiatsu massage, a form of Japanese massage, uses varying, rhythmic finger pressure on various
special points along acupuncture meridians. It releases the ‘Qi’ life energy that has become stagnated
and blocked.
- In Trigger Point massage, the therapist uses a variety of strokes and deeper, more focused finger
pressure on pain pressure points or knots.
- Reflexology is based around a system of points in the hands and feet that correspond to all areas
and organs of the body. It can rejuvenate the whole body and is based on an ancient Chinese system.
- A technique for finding and correcting cerebral and spinal imbalances or blockages that may cause sensory,
motor or intellectual dysfunction is Cranio-Sacral therapy. It is a gentle, hands-on technique developed
in the early 1900’s. It helps to alleviate a range of illness, pain, and dysfunction.
- Polarity is a system that uses the concept that there are opposite poles to everything in the
universe – positive/negative. It symmetrically balances the electromagnetic energy in the body to release
blockages and restore balance, and the free flow of life energy (‘Prana’). It involves not only manipulative
therapy but also a complete philosophy of life.
- La Stone Massage is based on the Native American tradition of using heated and cold stones with
massage.
- Aromatherapy is the art of using aromatic oils extracted from various plants to produce health of
body and mind. The aromas produce reactions in the brain that affect the emotions, memory, and intuition.
Massage therapy treatments usually last from 30-60 minutes. For some conditions, a series of appointments may
be advised. At your first appointment, you and your therapist will discuss your symptoms, medical history, and the
results you and your healthcare provider desire. The therapist will then do an evaluation through touch.
If they do not find anything that would make massage inadvisable, they will proceed with the massage.
At any time, please ask questions or express concerns.
* Thanks to National Institutes of Health and the American Massage Therapy Association.
