The basic goal of massage therapy is to help the body heal itself and to increase health and well-being.
Massage therapy is the systematic manipulation of soft tissues for the purpose of normalising them. Practitioners use a variety of physical methods including applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, or causing movement to the body. Therapists primarily use their hands, but may also use their forearms, elbows, or feet.
A Short History of Massage
Massage may be the oldest and simplest form of medical care. Egyptian tomb paintings show people being massaged. In Eastern cultures, massage has been practiced continually since ancient times. A Chinese book from 2,700 B.C. The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, recommends ‘breathing exercises, massage of skin and flesh, and exercises of hands and feet” as the appropriate treatment for -complete paralysis, chills, and fever.” It was one of the principal method of relieving pain for Greek and Roman physicians. Julius Caesar was said to have been given a daily massage to treat neuralgia. “The Physician Must Be Experienced In Many Things,” wrote Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, in the 5th century B. C., “but assuredly in rubbing… for rubbing can bind a joint that is too loose, and loosen a joint that is too rigid.”
Touch is the core ingredient of massage therapy and combines both science and art. Practitioners learn specific techniques for massage and use their sense of touch to determine the right amount of pressure to apply to each person and locate areas of tension and other soft-tissue problems. Touch also conveys a sense of caring, an important component in the healing relationship.
Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live
– Jim Rohn
When muscles are overworked, waste products such as lactic acid can accumulate in the muscle, causing soreness, stiffness, and even muscle spasm.
Massage improves circulation, which increases blood flow, bringing fresh oxygen to body tissues. This can assist with the elimination of waste products, speed healing after injury, and enhance recovery from disease.
Short term effects of massage are:
- to increase the blood flow, both in the area being massaged and generally
- to increase the lymphatic flow to and from the area treated, reducing pain, swelling and inflammation and speeding up the body’s own healing process
- to relieve stress and tension, factors which are known to hinder healing or slow it down, and cause problems of their own
- to reduce muscle tension, thereby improving the blood supply to an area
- to increase muscle tone
Long term effects of massage are:
- improved general circulation
- balance of the muscles and joints, leading to a better state of health
- breaking down of scar or fibrous tissue, restoring elasticity to the joints
- greater mobility within the joints of the body
- overall relief of stress
- greater immunity to further injuries of the same area
Remedial Massage
A paramedical treatment to target areas that helps in restoring function to injured “soft tissues”. (muscles, tendons and ligaments). Therapy may involve the use of various types of Massage, as well as a range of other physical treatments to assist your recovery. In addition, you may be asked to perform some activities at home to assist the process of recovery.
A few conditions that will benefit from Remedial Massage treatment include:
- stress related disorders such as migraines, frozen shoulders, neurasthenia, nervous exhaustion, headaches, aches and pains related to stress
- sports and accidental injuries, sprains, strains, etc.
- post pregnancy and post surgery
- long term disorders such as temporary or permanent paralysis, post stroke, arthritis, poly-arthritic disorders
- abdominal problems such as cramps, irritable bowels, constipation
- back pain and shoulder problems
Relaxation Massage
A smooth, flowing style combining the therapeutic properties of essential oils with specific Massage techniques that promotes general relaxation, improves circulation, range of movement and relieves muscular tension.
Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic massage is a broad target therapy that involves the manipulation of the soft tissue structures of the body to prevent and alleviate pain, discomfort, muscle spasm, and stress; and, to promote health and wellness. The technique uses manual soft tissue manipulation including holding, causing movement, and/or applying pressure to the body.
Therapeutic massage can be used to promote general well-being and enhance self-esteem, while boosting the circulatory and immune systems to benefit blood pressure, circulation, muscle tone, digestion, and skin tone. It has been incorporated into many health systems, and different massage techniques have been developed and integrated into various complementary therapies.
Learn more about the massages at Authenticity here.
