Massage Therapy: A Relaxing and Therapeutic Experience

Massage has been practiced worldwide for thousands of years. Nowadays if you need a massage, there are plenty of options to choose from. There are about 80 different massage therapies related to different pressures, movements, and techniques. All of these involve pressing, rubbing, or manipulating the muscles and other soft tissues with your hands or fingers. Your forearms, elbows, and even legs may be used.

A majority of today’s public opt for a massage in the present or have received some kind of massage in their life and there are many reasons for them to have done so. More and more people are starting to realize the health benefits of massage. You can choose from many massage styles to relieve symptoms, heal injuries, help certain health conditions, and promote general health.

It might be confusing to choose which massage style is best for you. You may have noticed that different massage styles are popular at different times. But, more importantly, you might also be wondering if the latest style really helps you. The styles used in massage therapy range from long, gentle strokes to short, percussive strokes. Some massage therapists use oils and lotions. Others do not. Most massage therapists allow clients to undress for massage, but some prefer the opposite. The massage can last from about 5 minutes to 2 hours.

Before deciding which massage, style is best for you, make sure you ask yourself. What is the reason for your message? Are you taking it because you need a massage for relaxation and stress management? Or do you need relief or support for a particular health condition? Before booking a massage, tell the therapist what you are looking for and ask what style the therapist is using. Many use multiple styles. Alternatively, the therapist can customize the massage accordingly, by checking if it suits your age, condition, or special needs and goals.

Which Massage therapy Are Best?

Swedish massage

The most common type of massage is Swedish massage therapy. This includes a gentle, long kneading motion and a light, rhythmic tapping motion in the uppermost muscle layer. This is also combined with joint movements. By relieving muscle tension, Swedish therapy can be both relaxing and stimulating. And it can help even after an injury.

Four common strokes of Swedish massage are:

Effleurage: a smooth, gliding stroke used to relax soft tissue

Petrissage: the squeezing, rolling, or kneading that follows effleurage

Friction: deep, circular movements that cause layers of tissue to rub against each other, helping to increase blood flow and break down scar tissue

Tapotement: a short, alternating tap done with cupped hands, fingers, or the edge of the hand

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is best for giving attention to certain painful, stiff “trouble spots” in your body. The massage therapist uses slow, deliberate strokes that focus pressure on layers of muscles, tendons, or other tissues deep under your skin. Even though it is less rhythmic than other types of massages, deep tissue massage may be therapeutic relieving chronic patterns of tension and helping with muscle injuries, such as a back sprain.

Sports Massage

This is a type of massage which is developed to help with muscle systems used for a particular sport. Sports massage uses a variety of approaches to help athletes in training before, during, or after sports events. You might use it to promote flexibility and help prevent injuries. Alternatively, it can relieve muscle tension and help heal after a sports injury.

Chair massage

Most of you have heard or seen or may have tried this kind of massage. It is quite common. If you have ever been to an amusement park, music festival or conference, there is a high chance for you to have at least seen a chair massage. There is also the chair massage club at the airport. Alternatively, you can be lucky enough to work for a company that offers regular 15-20 minute massages. On-site chair massages are performed completely in a specially designed portable chair. They usually involve the neck, shoulder, back, arm, and hand massage.

Thai massage

During a Thai massage, the therapist uses his body to move the client to different positions. This type of massage includes muscle compression, joint mobilization, and acupressure.

Lymphatic drainage massage

A Lymphatic drainage massage is a gentle massage of tissue designed to promote lymphatic circulation in the human body. Lymph is a protein-rich fluid that travels throughout your body in the lymph vessels. It picks up bacteria, viruses, waste products, etc., and carries them to the lymph nodes. The lymph nodes then filter the fluid to remove impurities from the body. Massage is usually done using light pressure and gentle, long strokes along the skin to promote lymphatic movement within the system. If you are already healthy, this is nothing more than relaxation and some mild tension release. This massage also improves circulation with specific movements that use gentle pressure to reduce fluid retention and is meant to improve cellulitis, regenerate the tissues, relax the muscles, improve the skin appearance, and overall tone the body. As a bonus, lymphatic drainage boosts metabolism and improves digestion. It is even known to alleviate symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), promoting relaxation, and decreasing the occurrences of menstrual cramps.

Hot stone massage

In this type of massage, the therapist places heated stones on specific areas of the body, such as acupoints. The stone can be used as a massage tool or left temporarily. Along with other massage techniques, hot stones transfer heat deep into the body, so that you can be very calm and relaxed.

Shiatsu Massage

In Japanese, shiatsu means “finger pressure.” For shiatsu massage, the therapist uses varied, rhythmic pressure on certain precise points of the body. These points are called acupressure points, and they are believed to be important for the flow of the body`s vital energy, called chi. Proponents say shiatsu massage can help relieve blockages at these acupressure points.

Reflexology

Reflexology uses hand, thumb, and finger techniques to stimulate specific areas of the foot. These areas are thought to correspond to different parts of the body. Therefore, these massages are expected to promote health and well-being.

Pregnancy massage

During pregnancy, your body undergoes major changes. Pregnancy massage can help these changes by reducing stress, reducing swelling in the arms and legs, and relieving pain in muscles and joints. Massages are especially useful when medications and other medical options may be limited. With a specially designed massage cushion, the massage therapist will help you get into a comfortable position for this type of massage.

Swedish massage, chair massage, sports massage, and deep tissue massage are the most popular of these massages.

Self-Massage:

As we have seen above massage therapy helps a great deal in improving some medical conditions too. If it is hard for you to go out, or if you feel awkward in meeting with a masseuse, you can do self-massage.

In self-massage, you operate your muscles with your hands. Knead the skin to apply pressure to specific areas. Self-massage is an easy and convenient way to enjoy the benefits of massage therapy. Self-massage helps in relieving stress, fear, headache, indigestion, muscle tension, muscle strain, and pain. If part of a comprehensive treatment plan, self-massage can also help manage chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia and arthritis. However, it does not replace the usual treatment. In addition, when receiving a professional massage, self-massage can prolong the effect and provide relaxation between sessions. Self-massage can relieve mild pain, including head pain, neck, shoulder, abdomen, top, and bottom of the back, gluteal muscles, hips, etc. If the pain is due to swelling of the muscles, there may also be nerve pain. This can happen when the muscles are compressing the nerves. However, self-massage to relieve muscle soreness can also relieve nerve pain.

Massage therapy and its Health Benefits:

Many types of massage offer more than simple relaxation. There are just a lot of health issues that can benefit from massage therapy. However, make sure to consult your doctor before using the massage for your health.

Good for Back pain: Massage therapy is really good for back pain. Treatment guidelines from the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society recommend that patients and doctors consider other options with proven benefits for low back pain. These include spinal manipulation and massage therapy.

Reduce Headache: Another type of pain that is not easy to deal with- headaches. They also respond well to massage therapy. Massage therapy can reduce the number of migraines in a person and improve sleep. Physical treatments like chiropractic, massage, acupressure, acupuncture, and craniosacral therapy are known to ease headache symptoms.

Arthropathy: In the first clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of Swedish massage for knee osteoarthritis, participants who received an hour of massage once or twice a week showed improved pain, stiffness, and function.There was no such change in the control group.

Cancer treatment: As a complement to traditional Western medicine, massage can promote relaxation and reduce the symptoms of cancer and the side effects of treatment. For example, it helps relieve pain, swelling, fatigue, nausea, depression, and improve immune system function. However, there may be certain areas that a massage therapist should avoid for cancer patients, or it may be necessary to avoid massage altogether. So, talk to your doctor before getting massage therapy if you have cancer.

Help to reduce Depression: Massage therapy may help reduce depression. But for generalized anxiety disorder, it was no more effective than providing a calming environment and deep breathing exercises.