Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy is a system of structured palpation or movement of the soft tissue of the body. The massage system may include, but is not limited to, such techniques as, stroking, kneading, gliding, percussion, friction, vibration, compression, passive or active stretching within the normal anatomical range of motion. Many massage styles or techniques will improve your health by acting directly on the circulatory, muscular, and nervous and immune systems. The purpose of massage is to help keep your body balanced, healthy and fresh.

One of the most commonly taught and well known massage techniques, Swedish massage is a vigorous system of treatment designed to energize the body by stimulating circulation. Five basic strokes, all flowing toward the heart, are used to manipulate the soft tissues of the body. Therapists use a combination of kneading, rolling, vibrational, percussive and tapping movements, with the application of oils and/or lotions to reduce friction on the skin. The many benefits of Swedish massage include dissolution of scar tissue adhesions, and improved circulation, which may speed healing and reduce swelling from injury.

Techniques that utilize deep-tissue/deep muscle massage are administered to affect the sub-layer of musculature and fascia. These techniques require advanced training and a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology. The muscles must be relaxed in order to effectively perform deep-tissue massage, otherwise tight surface muscles prevent the practitioner from reaching deeper musculature. It helps with chronic muscular pain and injury rehabilitation and reduces inflammation-related pain caused by arthritis and tendinitis. It is generally integrated with other massage techniques.

Performing Medical massage requires a firm background in pathology and utilizes specific treatments appropriate to working with disease, pain, and recovery from injury. The therapist may work from a physician’s prescription or as an adjunct healer within a hospital or physical therapy setting.

Prenatal massage helps expectant mothers to have an easier delivery and remain comfortable during pregnancy. It helps to reduce stress, decrease swelling, relieve muscle spasms and cramps, and reduce anxiety and depression. Pregnancy massage increases blood circulation, lymph circulation, and cellular respiration and reduces edema thereby improving the development process. It also helps in relaxation, which is one of the keys to labor and delivery.

Sports Massage is designed to enhance athletic performance and recovery. There are three contexts in which sports massage can be useful to an athlete: pre-event, post-event, and injury treatment. Pre-event massage is delivered at the performance site, usually with the athlete fully clothed. Fast paced and stimulating, it helps to establish blood flow and to warm up muscles. During the massage, the athlete generally focuses on visualizing the upcoming event. Post-event massage is also delivered on site, through the clothes. The intent here is to calm the nervous system and begin the process of flushing toxins and waste products out of the body. Post-event massage can reduce recovery time, enabling an athlete to resume training much sooner than rest alone would allow. When an athlete sustains an injury, massage therapy can often speed and improve the quality of healing.

Hot Stone massage involves placing heated, smooth stones on certain points on the body to warm and loosen tight muscles and balance energy centers in the body. The massage therapist may combine a Swedish or Deep Tissue massage technique with the therapeutic properties of Hot Stones or hold stones and apply gentle pressure with them. The warmth of heated stones penetrates deeply into sore, achy muscles and help to relieve muscle tension and relax the body.

Known as seated massage, chair massage, or on-site massage, this technique involves the use of a specially designed massage chair in which the client sits comfortably. Seated massage includes bodywork and somatic techniques, such as shiatsu, amma, and Swedish massage, provided to the fully clothed client in a variety of settings, including businesses, airports, and street fairs.

Myofascial release is the three-dimensional application of sustained pressure and movement into the fascial system in order to eliminate fascial restrictions that can cause tightness and pain. Fascia is a connective tissue that surrounds all body’s organs, bones and muscles. Upon locating an area of fascial tension, gentle pressure is applied in the direction of the restriction. Myofascial release is an effective therapeutic approach in the relief of cervical pain, back pain, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, neurological dysfunction, restriction of motion, chronic pain, and headaches.

Orthopedic Massage integrates elements of sports and medical massage to treat soft-tissue pain and injury. Emphasis is placed on understanding both the injury and its rehabilitation criteria. Three basic elements adhered to, despite the technical diversity of the treatment, are assessment, matching the treatment to the injury, and adaptability of treatment.>br/>
Oncology massage refers to massage tailored to the needs of individuals with cancer. This specialized practice requires therapists to be fully educated in, and pay close attention to the physical, emotional, and psychological needs of clients in all stages of cancer: diagnosis, treatment, recovery, survivor or terminal. Training in oncology massage covers appropriate bodywork modalities for cancer clients, includes precautions for radiation, chemotherapy and surgery, and covers physiology and pathology.

Geriatric massage, with its focus on the elderly, addresses the psychological and physiological aspects of aging and its associated diseases. Bodywork, often limited to a shorter time span, is often performed in residential care facilities.