A Brief Introduction to Massage Therapy
Massage therapy can treat numerous conditions and has endless health benefits for your entire body. There are also endless therapeutic techniques that make choosing a type of massage therapy difficult and confusing. The following guide briefly outlines treatable conditions, health benefits, and the most well known massage therapy techniques.
Conditions Treatable with Massage Therapy
There are numerous conditions that can be treated with massage therapy. The following list gives an idea of what massage therapy can treat.
- Prenatal Pain
- Headaches
- Sports Injuries
- Carpal Tunnel
- Scar Tissue
- Tendonitis
- Fibromyalgia
Benefits of Massage Therapy
Besides alleviating pain, massage therapy has several other added benefits. Some are:
- Relieve lower back pain
- Increase range of motion
- Reduces dependency on some medications
- Boosts immune system
- Strengthens muscles
- Improves joint flexibility
- Prepares athletes for workout
- Helps recovery from injury
Basic Massage Therapy Techniques
There are a variety of massage therapy techniques that can be used. Each technique has a different set of benefits for the body, making it important to choose the right kind of massage therapy for your needs. The four most common massage therapy techniques are Swedish massage, Deep Tissue massage, Sports massage, Shiatsu massage, and Trigger Point massage.
Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is the most common type of massage therapy. It utilizes long, gliding strokes to guide blood back to the heart, the kneading of muscles to stimulate blood circulation, and muscle taps to release muscle tension.
Deep Tissue Massage
Like Swedish massage, Deep Tissue massage uses long gliding strokes, muscle kneading, and muscle taps. However, Deep Tissue massage focuses on the deepest muscle tissue and tendons.
Deep Tissue massage has been known to lower blood pressure, lower stress hormones, and improve mood in addition to alleviating pain.
Sports Massage
Sports massage stems from Swedish massage and uses many of the same massaging techniques. While Swedish massage focuses on relaxation, Sports massage focuses on helping athletes heal injuries and recover by dispelling lactic acid build up and replacing it with oxygenated blood. It can also alleviate muscle tension, inflammation post-workout, promote muscle repair, and prevent injuries caused by overuse.
Sports massage can be extremely beneficial both pre and post workout.
Pre workout Sports massage should be short and energizing. This helps the muscles warm up and negate inevitable muscle overuse.
Post workout Sports massage should be calming and relaxing. This helps get rid of metabolic waste stored in the muscles and helps the muscles recover from intense activity quicker.
Shiatsu Massage
Shiatsu massage utilizes finger pressure techniques that comes from acupuncture to restore balance in the body. It focuses on unblocking the body’s chi or natural flow of energy to heal and relax. Shiatsu massage has been known to encourage blood flow throughout the body, boost the immune system, give pain relief, and improve mood.
Trigger Point Massage
Trigger Point massage alleviates pain through cycles of isolated pressure and release paired with deep breathing. Trigger Point massage requires active participation by the patient to accurately locate where the source of pain is. It allows for the release of constricted muscles and also manages pain from chronic injury.
Discover How Massage Therapy in the Dallas Metroplex Area Improves Overall Health
Massage therapy by a licensed massage therapist can treat numerous conditions and has several total body health benefits that make it an all-natural, drug-free way to restore and relax.