What Is Massage Therapy?

Massage has been described as "the healing touch." Often referred to as bodywork or somatic therapy, massage therapy refers to the application of various techniques to the muscular structure and soft tissues of the body. It consists of a group of manual techniques that include applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, and/or causing movement of or to the body, using primarily the hands. The massage therapist can also use other areas of the body, such as the forearms, elbows or feet. These techniques affect the musculoskeletal, circulatory-lymphatic, nervous, and other systems of the body.

The goal of massage therapy is fairly straightforward: to positively affect the health and well being of the client. Numerous physical and mental health benefits have been attributed to massage, including reducing stress and aiding in relaxation; reducing the heart rate; lowering blood pressure; increasing blood circulation and lymph flow; relaxing the muscles; reducing chronic pain and improving joint range of motion. Specifically, people have found that therapeutic massage can help manage a variety of conditions:

Physical Benefits:

• relaxes the whole body.
• loosens tight muscles.
• relieves tired and aching muscles.
• increases flexibility and range of motion.
• diminishes chronic pain.
• calms the nervous system.
• enhances skin tone.
• assists in recovery from injuries and illness.
• strengthens the immune system.
• reduces tension headaches.

Mental Benefits:

• reduces mental stress.
• improves concentration.
• promotes restful sleep.
• aids in mental relaxation.

Massage therapy is recognized as one of the oldest methods of healing, with references in medical texts nearly 4,000 years old. In fact, Hippocrates, known as the "father of medicine," referenced massage when he wrote, in the 4^th century B.C.: "The physician must be acquainted with many things, and assuredly with rubbing."

Actually, massage therapy is not so much rubbing as stroking, kneading, tapping, compression, vibration, rocking, friction, pressure, and various other techniques. Specific styles of massage therapy utilized by therapists may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, but without relying on the use of needles. This technique involves pressing on certain points of the body to relieve pain. Acupressure attempts to promote maximal flow of "qi," the vital energy or "life force" believed by some to flow throughout the body.
  
  
• Craniosacral therapy involves massaging the bones of the skull and the lower spine (the sacrum). Proponents of this type of therapy claim that massage can loosen or release restrictions or "blockages" in the body that can contribute to pain and dysfunction. For infomation about CranialSacral Therapy Click here
  
  
• Deep-tissue massage uses slow strokes, direct pressure, or friction, applied across the grain of the muscles with the fingers, thumbs or elbows. Deep-tissue massage works deeply into the muscles and connective tissue to release chronic aches and pains.
  
  
• Hydrotherapy involves the use of water in all its forms (internally and externally) to assist in healing, including whirlpool therapy, application of ice packs, colonic irrigation, steambaths, etc.
  
  
• Lymph drainage involves the application of light, rhythmic strokes. This technique is primarily used to help conditions related to poor lymph flow, such as inflammation, edema and neuropathies.
  
  
• Neuromuscular massage is massage applied to specific muscles, often used to increase blood flow, release knots of muscle tension, or release pain/pressure on nerves. One type of this therapy is also known as Trigger Point Therapy, in that concentrated finger pressure is applied to "trigger points" of muscular pain.
  
  
• Reflexology is based on a system of points on the hands and feet thought to correspond or "reflex" to other areas of the body. The technique is thus specific to particular body parts (most often the feet), but is intended to assist the entire body.
  
  
• Rolfing refers to a specific type of massage that relies on deep pressure on tissues that cover muscles and internal organs. Also known as "structural integration," Rolfing aims to align different areas of the body relevant to gravity, i.e., the head, torso, legs, etc.
  
  
• Shiatsu/acupressure are systems of finger-pressure massage based on the Asian system of healing, which treats special points along "meridians" — channels of energy flow (or Qi or Chi) in the body. The underlying belief is that blocked meridians can cause physical discomfort, and that techniques applied to specific meridian points can "release" the blockage, thereby balancing energy flow.

• Swedish massage: Generally regarded as the most common form of massage, Swedish massage involves manipulation of the muscles and connective tissues of the body for relaxation or health maintenance. Swedish massage uses five basic massage techniques to relax muscles and body tissues.

• Thai massage utilizes many of the movements from yoga and the meridians of traditional Chinese medicine.

• Trager therapy relies on progressive gentle, rhythmic rocking and stretching techniques to promote easy and free sensations in the body.

Currently there are well over 100,000 massage therapists practicing in the United States alone. Training requirements vary from state to state, although more and more schools and states recommend massage therapy programs of at least 500 hours training. As of January 2001, 29 states and the District of Columbia currently have official licensing regulations concerning the practice of massage.

References:

• The National Institutes of Health. Alternative medicine: expanding medical horizons. A report to the National Institutes of Health on alternative medical systems and practices in the United States. NIH Publication No. 94-066. 1994.
• Weintraub, M. 1992a. Alternative medical care: Shiatsu, Swedish muscle massage, and trigger point suppression in spinal pain syndrome. Am. J. Pain Mgmt. 2(2):74-78.
• Complementary and alternative methods: types of bodyork. Available at www.cancer.org.
• American Massage Therapy Association: definition of massage therapy.
• Consumers guide to therapeutic massage and bodywork. National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB).
• Massage schools and careers: questions and answers. Naturalhealers.com information page.
• About massage, bodywork and somatic therapies. Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP).
• American Massage Therapy Association: basic massage therapy terms.