Massage therapy

What is massage therapy?

Massage therapy is a broad term encompassing several different techniques and is perhaps one of the oldest healing traditions.
The skin is the largest organ of the human body and is packed with nerve endings. The main objective of massage therapy is to relax a person and relieve muscle tension and knots.
Swedish, deep tissue, trigger point, and myofascial release are common forms of massage therapy.
Massage therapy has the potential to influence the body in many ways. When a person begins to relax and release muscular tension, there is easier access to a meditative state, lowered levels of stress, decreased pain, and an increased feeling of well being.

What is the background of massage therapy?

Massage therapy is one of the oldest health care practices.
References to massage are found in Chinese medical texts that are 4,000 years old.
Modern scientific massage therapy was introduced in the UK in the 1850s. Its health benefits are just beginning to be investigated using Western methods of scientific inquiry.

What are the indications for massage therapy?

Massage therapy is often used for general relaxation. One of the immediate benefits is a feeling of deep relaxation and calm. This occurs because massage prompts the release of endorphins, the brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that produce feelings of wellbeing. Levels of stress hormones - such as adrenaline, cortisol and norepinephrine - are also reduced. Studies indicate that high levels of stress hormones impair the immune system.

Massage is especially effective in treating ‘vicious cycle’ complaints. For instance, a tension headache is often self-sustaining because the pain makes the sufferer clench the affected muscles even harder. This, in turn, creates more pain. A thorough neck and shoulder massage can release muscle tension and break the pain cycle.

Massage therapy is used for the following disorders: