Massage Therapy Facts

Massage therapy has grown in popularity over the years, and today you can walk into almost any spa and request a massage. Whether you want massage for health reasons or just to relax, massage offers many health benefits. With eighty different styles of massage being offered, you're sure to find a massage that fits your needs.

History

• Massage is believed to have been in use since man first walked the earth, and people of all cultures have practiced massage over the years. The name for this therapy has evolved over the years. At around the time Hippocrates lived, massage was given names such as tripsis, friction, manipulation, rubbing and shampooing. The first time anything was ever written in a book about massage was around 2700 B.C. In India you will rarely find someone who does not know how to give a massage. Massage there is exchanged between parents and their children. Swedish massage became popular during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and doctors started to use massage as a form of medical treatment towards the close of the nineteenth century. Massage lost its appeal between the years 1930 and 1940, but this therapy started to make a comeback in the 1970's.

Types

• There are many different types of massage, and each type uses its own variety of techniques. Swedish massage is a popular form of massage that utilizes long strokes, kneading, friction, deep movements using a circular motion, vibration and tapping. Amma massage originated in Asia, and it uses massage movements to stimulate energy points in the body. Sports massage involves the use of massage and stretching, and the techniques used are specific to complaints of the sports enthusiast. Deep tissue massage uses strokes that reach the muscles and tissues beneath the skin. Other types of massage include shiatsu massage, Thai massage, hot stone massage and massage for pregnancy. Reflexology is considered by some to be massage, but with reflexology only the feet are worked on.

Function

• Massage is sought for various reasons. Massage is beneficial to reduce muscle tension and soreness, and it is also used for the treatment of sports injuries. For the person who suffers from anxiety, massage can assist in alleviating their fears and feelings of depression. Massage is also used to treat back pain. People who have trouble sleeping may utilize massage, as well as those who suffer from headaches. Cancer patients get massage to alleviate the symptoms of cancer, to boost their immunity, and to relax. Massage therapy is also used to reduce stress. Pregnant women get massage to obtain relief from pregnancy symptoms and to feel good.

Benefits

• The benefits of massage are many, and research has determined that the use of massage can help alleviate anxiety, reduce blood pressure, remedy depression and relieve pain. Clinical trials done in 2008 revealed massage may help with chronic low-back pain, and massage was recommended for use on persons with chronic low-back pain by the American Pain Society and the American College of Physicians. A study done on 300 hospice patients revealed massage put advanced cancer patients in a better mood and alleviated their pain. Another study done on persons experiencing chronic pain in the neck revealed massage offered more benefits than a book on self-care.

Warnings

• Although the risks involved with massage therapy are nothing to be concerned about, there are some warnings you should be aware of. Anyone who is on a medication that thins the blood should not have strong massage, nor should anyone with a bleeding disorder or a blood platelet count that is low. People with a blood clot, a fracture, a wound, a skin infection, or fragile bones, and people who just had surgery should not have massage. People with cancer should consult with their doctor before having massage, and so should women who are pregnant.