Physical Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is a healing art that has been used for thousands of years. Today, it is used both for recreational and medicinal purposes. Individuals suffering from back pain, stiff joints, stress or other physical complications will often seek help from massage therapists, who provide a safe and enjoyable method of healing.

Significance

• Physical massage therapy is a practice of applying varying amounts of pressure to the body to relive tension, promote relaxation and stimulate circulation. It is a non-invasive practice available to all age groups. In addition to recreational use in spas and salons, physical massage has become an integral part of certain therapies centered on treating complications like bursitis, depression, diabetes and high-blood pressure.

Types

• According to massagetherapy.com, "there are more than 250 variations of massage, bodywork, and somatic therapies." For example, deep tissue massage is characterized by the application of intense pressure to specific points of the body. Swedish massage utilizes a variety of kneading, tapping and rolling the hands along the back, neck and arms.

Process

• Before any type of physical massage is performed, a therapist will typically ask a patient to fill out a form outlining any medical conditions or complications experienced in the prior several years. This allows a therapist to better tailor a massage to the patient's specific needs.

  Once a patient is admitted, the therapist will have him sit or lie down on a specialized massage chair or table. The therapist will then expose the patient to a variety of techniques or minor exercises, usually over a period of 30 to 90 minutes. The therapist may pull or twist the patient's hands, feet, arms, head or legs at certain angles designed to promote balance and circulation. This is a process known as reflexology. The therapist will also utilize her hands, forearms, elbows or feet to massage tension out of the patient's body.

Modalities

• During physical massage therapy, a therapist typically utilizes a variety of modalities to ease the experience. These modalities may include massage oils, lotions, creams and scents. Oils, creams and lotions are used to reduce friction during massage therapy. Scents and soft music are part of a practice known as aromatherapy, which is used to promote relaxation during massage therapy.

Warning

• Physical massage therapy excludes certain practices that require a license in orthopedics, podiatry, physical therapy or similar branch of medicine, according to massagetherapy.com. Individuals with severe physical complications should consult a doctor before seeing a massage therapist.