Different cultures around the world have practiced
massage therapy techniques for hundred of years. The result of today’s massage therapy is a
culmination of long years of practice in traditional treatment. Nowadays, if you want a massage, you can go
to clinics, spas, health clubs, hospitals, and even airports. You can choose
from the 80 different styles and techniques of massage therapy; each offers various
benefits to the patient.
List of Massage Therapy Techniques
and Their Benefits
The field of massage therapy has experienced a
different trend over the years. A
popular massage last year may be replaced by a new technique this year. Some of you might think that this is just a
fad and will eventually disappear. You
may also ask if a particular style can indeed provide aid to your body. Before
acquiring the service of a different massage therapist, you must first ask
yourself the reason why you want to have a massage. Do you want to relieve your headache, muscle
pain, swelling, or do you want it for relaxation? Different massage therapists may also alter their
style and soothing techniques based on your wellness, age, or unique condition. Here are some of the most popular massage
therapy techniques and their benefits.
Swedish massage
Swedish massage is one of the most common types of
massage therapy. This style engages in a
yielding and extensive rubdown stroke together with a soft and periodic stroke.
This technique has been proven to work best on muscle tensions by putting some
pressure on your joints. There are four
different types of Swedish massage; Tapotement, friction, petrissage, and
effleurage.
Overview of Swedish Massage
Massage has been practiced since the old civilization, and it
was believed then to treat many diseases. Today, at least 80 different massage
therapies are offered in the market by different day spas. Swedish massage
is one of the most popular massages, especially in the West. It is also the
best type of massage for those
people who never acquired a therapeutic
massage before. However, you need to
guarantee that a professional massage therapist administers it to prevent complications.
A Walkthrough about Swedish Massage
The technique
incorporated in the Swedish massage
is the basis of the other Western Massage
such as aromatherapy massage, deep tissue massage, and sports massage. It can be refreshing and
vigorous or mild and slow. Deep tissue massage would be best for people
suffering from chronic pain.
How it Works
The session will
begin when the massage therapist lubricates
your specific body with specialized oil and execute diverse massage strokes. The assorted strokes
will prepare the tissue in the muscle to break up the adhesion in the tissue,
which will ultimately lead to relaxation. The therapeutic massage will generally last from 50-60 minutes. After
the massage therapy, the therapist will
instruct you on what to do before leaving the massage room. You are generally naked underneath a sheet or a towel
during the entire session. The massage
therapist will only uncover a part of your body on a particular technique
that they referred to as draping. If you are not comfortable getting nude, you
may leave your underwear as most first-timers do.
What To Expect During the Session
You will lie face
down while your head is supported by a U-shaped cradle that levels your spine.
The massage therapist will start to
work on your back by using a diverse massage
technique that may include tapping, stretching, friction, kneading, and
effleurage. After they are done with your back, they will start working on the
back of your legs and then on the side. They will then hold your sheet up and look
away while you turn on the other side before covering you again and massaging the front region of legs,
arms, neck, and shoulder.
Through Swedish Massage, you are relaxing your
muscle, detoxifying, relieving yourself of some stress, and rejuvenating your
lost energy. Study shows that therapeutic
massage can also boost your immune system due to its ability to reduce the
level of cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone that can lead to weight gain
and lowers the body's power to fight viruses and bacteria.
Shiatsu
Shiatsu translates to “finger pressure.” In this type of massage, the therapist will apply
varying pressure on different pressure points of the body. They called these points acupressure. They believe that specific acupressure
corresponds to a distinct part of our body and focusing on that point can deal
with a particular condition.
Sports Massage
Sports Massage is designed to help athletes. The therapist tends to focus on a specific
muscle point that is constantly used for particular sports. Sports massage deliberately helps the athlete
before, after, and during a sports match. It helps minimize the possibility of
injuries and enhances the flexibility of the muscle tissue. It can also maximize the healing property in
case of an injury.
Benefits of Sports Massage
Sports massage is designed to aid the athlete before,
during, and after a sports match. They can deal with different problems that
concern a wide range of sports enthusiasts, from world-class Olympians to
joggers. The type of Sports Massage that will be administered to a specific
patient is based on the kind of sports they are doing. The therapist will focus
on a certain point of the body commonly used in distinct sports.
Tissue Repair
The type of stroke in sports massage is designated to
suck liquid through the lymph and blood vessels. With the increased pressure administered,
a vacuum-like function is being created. This process has been proven to work
on damaged muscle cells as the tissue will flush out the blood, enabling the
tissue to repair at a faster rate and receive nutrients.
Waste Excretion
Sports massage will enable the pores in our skin to
achieve a higher amount of permeability, allowing for the nutrients and fluids
to pass all the way through. This will immediately remove the body wastes such
as lactic acid. This will also encourage the skin to have a proper supply of
oxygen and nutrients that enhance the body's healing rate.
Skin Elasticity
The Sports Massage can improve the skin's elasticity
in a way we never thought was possible. A group of muscle fibers will be tensed
sideways and lengthwise. Sports Massage also makes it possible to fix the
fascia present in the muscle, releasing any stress and tension that was
accumulated caused by the sports.
Encourage the flow of blood
Exercise can increase the blood flow throughout our
bodies. The blood vessels will be stretched through massage, causing the
nutrients to pass through them more easily.
Reduce the Pain and relax the nerve
Through sports massage, the body will release a
hormone called endorphins, which our body reacts through pain. The waste
products and tension accumulated over the years can cause pain. Sports massage increases
our body's tolerance to pain. It can also provide us comfort and relaxation.
With the stroke of sports massage, the body will instantly generate heat.
Together with the proper circulation of blood and the stretching of muscle
tissue, it allows us to achieve full relaxation. Mechanoreceptors are also
stimulated during the sports massage, contributing to the comfort that we feel
after and during the massage.
Reduce Anxiety
Through the relaxation brought by the sports massage,
the person's level of anxiety considerably reduces. During the sports event,
the strokes are incorporated in a vigorous mode to energize the athlete and
clear his mind.
Chair Massage
Chair massage is usually seen at airports and
conferences. Certain companies are
offering this benefit to their employees for at least 20 minutes a day. During the Chair massage, you will take a
seat on a specially constructed chair.
This massage generally focuses on your neck, arms, shoulder, hands, and
back.
Thai Massage
If you are having trouble with the movements of your
joints, then Thai massage would be the best suitable technique for you. Similar to the Shiatsu massage, the Thai
massage also focuses on the acupressure on our body. The only difference is, it includes the
firmness of the muscle.
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