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Health Benefits Of Therapeutic Massage

Med — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 04:05:52 +0000

There are 2 levels of health benefits when receiving a therapeutic massage: the mental, and the physical. The physical benefits center on the massages ability to relieve stress and the way that it aids relaxation. It helps to relieve muscle tension and stiffness and can aid in relieving discomforts felt during pregnancy. It can also foster faster healing of strained muscles and ligaments that have been sprained. It can reduce pain and swelling of joints and muscles and also reduce the formation of excessive scar tissue from injuries.

Massage can provide increased joint flexibility and better range of motion. It has been shown to improve or enhance the athletics performance level as well as to treat any sport injury. It promotes deeper and easier breathing and can improve circulation of blood and improve the lymphatic system. It does reduce your blood pressure and help to relieve tension-related headaches and the effects of eyestrain. It can aid in the nourishment of skin thus improving the condition of your skin. It can improve your posture and treat musculoskeletal problems you may be experiencing after surgery or after a sports related injury.

The mental health benefits of therapeutic massage are that it fosters a peace of mind, promotes a more relaxed state of alertness and can relieve mental stress. It can help you to improve your ability to monitor stress signals and aid you in responding to them more appropriately. You may be able to think more calmly and be more creative in your thinking patterns. There are emotional benefits to massage that are of a direct result of the mental improvements that it gives those who receive it. It can reduce your level of anxiety, give you a greater sense of body awareness and give you a keen-awareness of the connection between body and mind.

Research studies show that massage reduces heart rate, can lower your blood pressure and increase your blood circulation while improving your lymph flow affecting your body’s ability to deal with toxins. It relaxes muscles and improves your range of motion. Endorphins that enhance how your body deals with pain are a benefit to those suffering from injury. Massage cannot increase your muscle strength; but it can stimulate weak or inactive muscles and therefore can partially compensate for the lack of muscle tone due to weak or inactive muscles. Persons suffering from weak muscle tone due to muscle injury or lack of exercise or inactivity due to injury or illness can realize some benefit from massage. It also has been found to improve or quicken recovery from illness or injury.

Your sports trainer or health care provider may recommend receiving therapeutic massage to either enhance your workout or reduce the pain, muscle or joint injury suffered from overextending during workouts or to prevent injury during a workout. Massage is often part of the treatment plan following surgery or a long illness. Your health care professional may give you a referral to a certified or licensed massage therapist.

Deep Tissue Massage Therapy

Med — Fri, 07 May 2010 04:41:52 +0000

One form of Massage Therapy is deep tissue massage. This is also referred to as sports massage at times. This massage method applies pressure to tendons, fascia, connective tissue, and muscles under the skin but also the deep down muscles. This is a fairly intense massage compared to say a Swedish massage and is used for many types of people and is therefore not just for athletes as some people believe. We will explore Deep tissue massage in this article.

First, what is deep tissue Massage?

This form of massage is a method that explores and applies pressure to the layers of deep muscles and tendons, connective tissue, and fascia mainly. This is done usually by pressure from fingertips as applied by a therapist. How specifically? Well, the therapist utilizes deep pressure via the fingertips in a slow stroking fashion. This can be done by following the grain of the muscle, fascia or tendon or by going actually across the grains of the fibers.

What is the purpose of this type of massage?

The focus and aim is to release any tension patterns in the fiber. To make patterns of tension stuck down inside go relax and go away. These areas are usually chronically contracted and the friction is applied to the fibers with the fingertips in a direct way while going across the grain.

What are some of the benefits of deep tissue massage therapy?

They are:

* helps to relieve pain

* Helps to promote healing

* teaches and helps the body to realign itself

* Can help to eliminate scar tissue by breaking it up

* Helps to relieve tension

* soothes and relaxes muscles

* helps to remove toxins

* Helps the blood circulate better

* helps to increase oxygen flow

This deep massage method concentrates on specific areas with the therapist using slow and deep massaging strokes. In this way, the massage sinks beyond any superficial layers and goes into the structure of fibers much deeper down. The therapist will do this with compression and long slow strokes. The pressure is applied with:

* The therapists’ Forearms

* Their hands

* Their knuckles

* Their elbows

* Their fingertips

* Their thumbs

* Their fists

Usually there is some lotion, oil or a cr?me used to help with friction in working into the deeper structures of the fibers. Although this massage therapy concentrates on specific areas usually you will not have much soreness when proper techniques are utilized. However, there might be some soreness just the same but it will be well worth it as a person usually feels really a lot better after a couple of days.

So what types of conditions can deep tissue massages help with?

Some possibilities are:

* alleviating or easing tension

* helping with headaches

* reducing or eliminating neck pain

* General pain relief

* reducing or eliminating trigger points

* Helping to relieve back pain

* helping to heal a sports injury

* help with soft tissue damage

* reduce discomfort of tennis elbow

* reduce symptoms of golfers elbow

and many more…..

While this from of deep massage can be somewhat uncomfortable at times the therapist will warm the soft tissue before going into deeper fibers. But no matter what the end goal is for the therapy session with deep tissue massage applying more and more pressure is usually not going to achieve better results or be more effective as there needs to be a whole therapeutic program to achieve the goals. However, by learning from the therapist, some stretches to do at home along with strengthening exercises on can probably realize the many benefits of utilizing a deep tissue massage therapy program.

Massage For Your Body And Mind

Med — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:38:52 +0000

We all live such fast paced lives full of stress that everyone could do with the benefits of massage therapy. Massage helps not only to relax your body but does wonders for your mind as well.

Too much stress, can lead to health problems, so ridding your life of stress can benefit your health. Stress manifests itself in many ways including headaches, stomach upsets, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes and depression.

Massage therapy is a combination of both science and art. Science in how the body responds to stress and to massage and art in the way that the hands can shape and affect the physical and emotional being of another.

Massage has a rich history throughout the world. In Greek the words masso/massein mean to touch or to handle, also to knead or to squeeze. In Latin, the word massa, means the same as masso in Greek. Arabic word mass’h or mass, means to press softly and the Sanskrit word makeh, also means to press softly. The very roots of massage, stem from ancient Chinese, Greek, Roman, Indian and Egyptian eras. Greek and Roman physicians used massage to relieve pain. Julius Caesar had daily massages to treat neuralgia. Egyptian tomb paintings show people using massage. There is a traditional Indian system called Ayurveda that uses massage as medicine and is still widely practiced in India. The father of Western medicine, Hippocrates, wrote of rubbing in regards to “binding a joint that is too loose or loosen a joint that is too rigid”. Early physicians used massage to treat fatigue, illness and injury and based the practice on what they understood about the body functions. They of course lacked the knowledge concerning blood circulation that we know about today, so there uses of massage were limited to what knowledge they did have in those times, but they understood the connection between body and mind.

Massage therapy has become an important part of healthcare as more and more physicians, chiropractors and physiotherapists understand the benefits of massage for their patient’s well-being. More employers and health insurance carriers are supporting the use of massage for treatment plans. It is more widely accepted that there is a connection between the health of the mind and the health of the physical body.

Massage therapy is a growing field for those seeking a rewarding career field. There are many massage technique books, massage therapy programs and schools that can help students learn about massage techniques. If having a career that benefits people not only in the physical sense but gives them mental clarity and emotional support as well, then massage therapy fits the bill.

During WWI massage was administered to soldiers to relieve nerve damage as well as to soothe shell shock during the 1930′s in Western hospitals. Massage today is used for treating babies, seniors, sports professionals, those who suffer from osteoarthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, paralysis, heart attack victims, and stoke. Many pregnant women find massage to give them great relief for the many aches and pains of pregnancy as well as to improve pain management during labor. There have been many uses throughout time for the physical, emotional and mental benefits of massage therapy.

Getting The Best Benefits Out Of Massage Therapy

Med — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 22:58:52 +0000

Massage therapy can be quite the useful treatment when it comes to helping you to feel more relaxed, free from stress, and able to recover from soft tissue injuries. Many people choose to undergo massage therapy for these various reasons, and there are a lot of factors that can alter just how effective your massage therapy session is. In this article, we’ll examine some factors that you may want to consider that will help you to get the best result out of your visit to the massage therapist.

One of the most important things that you can do in order to ensure that you will get the most out of your massage therapy session is to go into it with an open mind and be willing to allow the therapist to do what they want. The more open that you are to letting the massage therapist do what they need to do, the more relaxed you will be, and the greater the benefit the massage will have. For this reason, you should ensure that your massage therapist practitioner is an individual that you can trust and relax around. If you’re tensed up and nervous for the entire massage therapy session, you’re not likely to experience the full benefit. Breathe deep and relax and you will find that the massage therapy experience can be quite wonderful.

Another thing that many massage therapists recommend when it comes to getting the full experience from a massage therapy session is to avoid eating immediately before your appointment. Also, be sure that you can make it to the therapist on time. If you are rushed for time, you will be more likely to be tensed up during the session and less likely to receive the full benefit of the massage.

Another important thing to take under consideration is telling your massage therapist your complete medical history. The more that the therapist knows about your lifestyle and the health problems that you have encountered in the past, the easier it will be for them to make your experience an effective and enjoyable one. Also, if you have any questions or concerns when beginning the session, be sure to address them as soon as possible so that you will be able to fully relax and enjoy the session.

Since massage therapy programs incorporate most of the body in the massage, you may find yourself uncomfortable from time to time. When you feel like you are uncomfortable but you wish for the massage to continue, remember to take some deep breaths so that you can help your body to relax to make it easier for the therapist and yourself.

Hopefully, these tips will help you to experience all of the benefits that you can from your massage therapy session. Be sure to get a massage therapist that you can feel comfortable around and that you can communicate with well so that you can ensure that there are no snags in the massage therapy process. Best of luck, and enjoy!

Common Questions About Massage Therapy

Med — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 06:04:52 +0000

Massage therapy is a type of treatment that can be useful when it comes to helping you to get over a variety of different health-related problems. Many people would benefit from a massage therapy session, but some are scared of the practice because they are unsure of exactly what it is. In this article, we’ll address some of the questions that are commonly asked regarding massage therapy so that you can feel more at-home with the procedure and be more likely to have an enjoyable massage therapy session.

Question: What’s with the oil? Do all massage therapists use massage oil?

Answer: Since there are many different types of massage therapy that an individual may partake in, there are some different types of therapy that involve the use of oil while others do not. The massage therapy techniques that do involve the usage of oil often employ the use of hypo-allergenic oils so that you don’t need to be afraid of breaking out after a therapy session. If your skin is sensitive to certain types of oils, however, it is important that you let your massage therapist know in order to ensure that your experience will be safe and enjoyable.

Question: How long does a massage therapy session usually last?

Answer: As with the last question, since there are so many different types of massage therapy that are practiced in the world today, there is no real set standard for the length of a massage therapy session. Some types of massage therapy such as the traditional Thai massage can take upwards of two hours. Most massage therapy sessions tend to last between sixty to ninety minutes. Most massage therapists charge by the hour or the half-hour. If you are short on time but still want to receive the benefits that can be offered by massage therapy, you may want to consider having a partial massage for only thirty minutes.

Question: What types of things should I address with my massage therapist before undergoing a session?

Answer: Typically, the massage therapist will ask most of the questions that they need to know in order to help you to get over the problems that you are having. They may ask you questions regarding your medical history as well as asking you about your lifestyle in order to ensure that the massage program that you are going to receive is suitable for your body’s needs.

Question: What will I be wearing when I receive my massage therapy?

Answer: This is one question that most people have that can scare them away from massage therapy. Luckily, massage therapy is a profession that requires a high level of ethics. Some forms of therapeutic massage may not require you to remove much clothing, but full body massages may require you to remove all of your clothing. This can be done in a private area with no one else present, and when the work is being performed, all areas of your body will be covered with a towel except for the area that is currently being massaged. To that end, you shouldn’t worry too much about the disrobing factor; the procedure is discrete and a good massage therapist will do all that they can to provide a comfortable atmosphere.

Types Of Massage Therapy

Med — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 17:07:52 +0000

There are many types of massage therapy and almost every person that exists can derive some benefit from massage therapy whether they are young or old. From some simple benefits to some remarkable health benefits. Therapy using massage techniques can do things like helping a person to heal better by helping the person’s body use it owns resources to heal. It can help with headaches and help to relieve many kinds of tension and stress. It is truly remarkable the healing power of touch and massage. There are many massage techniques and complementary therapies and we will explore some of them briefly here.

What are some of the main categories of massage professions?

The two categories are:

* Medical massage

* Energy massage

What are some of the therapies that complement massage?

Some complementary therapies are:

* Osteopathy

* Aromatherapy

* Reflexology

While these are a few of the complementary therapies to go with massage the two main professions can further be divided by specializations and uses. Some of the medical profession uses massage to assist with:

* sports healing

* Certain stretching massages with exercise

* Orthopedic

* Massage that is for the neuromuscular area

But the profession focused on energy type therapies use massage for:

* touch therapy

* Reiki

* Polarity which can be a combination of touch and polarity

There are many types of massages that can be utilized by a professional therapist for various problems and there are therapists who wish to only practice a specialized massage therapy. What are some of the massage therapies and what do they seek to accomplish in general? Let’s take a look.

Some oriental massage therapies are:

* Acupressure

* Shiatsu

Acupressure is based on acupuncture only it doesn’t utilize any needles at all and utilizes some deep tissue massage with pressure being applied along certain points or areas of the body. However it does not normally use any lotions or oils.

With Shiatsu massage the goal is to combine some acupressure and some massage and is focused somewhat on relieving discomfort and balancing ones energy.

One of the most basic massages is Swedish massage. It utilizes long and basically gentle strokes that can be used on all the various groups of muscles. It is mainly used to help ease and relieve tension and is known for improving circulation.

Along the same lines as Swedish massage is relaxation massage as it utilizes a flowing and smooth technique.

There is workplace massage.

A very specific massage of therapeutic value to the cranium called Cranial Sacral massage therapy. This is applied to the neck and the head.

A very medical application called remedial massage. It emphasizes a paramedical treatment that helps to achieve the restoration of and function of the soft tissue such as ligaments, tendons, muscles that have been injured. This utilizes many types of massage and includes self treatment at home.

To achieve a balance in the body there is a therapy that uses the reflex points in the feet. These points have matching or corresponding areas in the body. The therapist or if doing this yourself will apply pressure to these points with the thumb and fingers.

Certain massage therapies can be benefited or enhanced with the healing powers of essential oils and this would be called aromatherapy massage.

The massage therapy that involves deep tissue massage has several different massage techniques that apply some of the methods used in deep tissue massage. Deep tissue massage involves many different types of strokes and involved some of these techniques such as;

* Sports massage

* Massage of the Connective Tissue

* trigger point therapy

* Neuromuscular massage Techniques

Finally, there is Hot Stone Massage which helps to increase blood flow to the muscles and is sometime used in conjunction with a Pilates workout.

There are many uses for massage therapy so find one that helps you achieve overall well being and helps you achieve the health goal you seek. Even a massage from a good pal will be beneficial.

The Benefits Of Infant Massage

Med — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:14:52 +0000

Research has shown that skin-to-skin touch between mom and baby or dad and baby can benefit both. They can learn to communicate without using words. New parents can bond better with their new family member when they practice holding their new baby to their unclothed chest. New babies always smell so good and feel so soft. Babies receive real benefit from feeling your warm skin and hearing the reassuring sound of your heartbeat. Infant massage helps babies to grow and develop better. There has been some exciting research done in the area of touch and it’s connection to proper growth.

Touch stimulates the growth-promoting hormones and increases the enzymes that make the cells of the vital organs. Premature babies who are touched and held show more weight gain then those who are left in incubators receiving little human touch or stimulation. In some eastern cultures young mothers are reprimanded if they do not give their babies massages every day, so revered is the practice of infant massage.

Many books have been written on the topic of human babies who suffer from lack of human touch, fail to thrive. Touch is good for your body and for your brain. Studies have been conducted that show that those who received plenty of human touch during infancy display enhanced neurological development. Researchers have drawn a connection between touch and the growth hormone “myelin” – which is the insulating material that surrounds nerves. This material makes nerve impulses move faster.

Touch has also been shown to improve digestion. When babies are touched often they secret more digestive hormones allowing for better digestion. Babies who have colic may benefit from massage to calm a irritated colon.

Baby massage can promote better sleeping patterns and lead to less fussiness during the day. Most babies who fuss and cry a lot may scare off adults and lead to being picked up and cuddled less often. Adults need to understand that touch to babies can soothe them and bring about a more calm disposition. The same thing happens when an adult is upset and someone reaches out and touches your arm, or gives you a quick squeeze. That instant touch is felt, you feel an immense relief, a connection that says, “s (he) cares about me”. The fussy baby feels the same sense of relief over someone caring about them.

Baby massage teaches a baby about their body parts. They can learn which parts are sensitive and which parts being touched can relax them. Massage teaches a baby that they have self-worth and are of value to those around them.

Massage can especially help when he parent and infant have had a slow start in the bonding department due to the parent being absent, ill or otherwise unable to care for or be with the infant during the first hours or days of life. Massage can also help when the baby has been separated from mom or dad due to the infant being in the hospital or NICU unit due to medical complications or early birth.

Infant massage can help the giver and the baby to reconnect after being away from each other on a daily basis too. Like when the mom or dad works and then returns home. A daily massage upon return can help the two reconnect and relieve tension for both of them.

Massage can help lessen the fears of handling a new baby for the inexperienced parent or caregiver. Touch helps to get both of you in tuned to each other. Babies learn to respond to different strokes and they will soon learn to recognize daddy’s touch from mommy’s touch.

Massage Knowledge For Newbies

Med — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:36:52 +0000

Massage combines the use of pressure, friction, and strain upon tissues and joints of the body for therapeutic or personal gain. Massage has been used for centuries for health reasons especially for pain relief and rehabilitative care.

Swedish massage is the most common thought of massage technique and it’s purpose is to relax the muscles by applying pressure to them against deep muscles and bones by rubbing in the same direction as the blood takes when returning from the heart. Some believe it is safe to apply light pressure in the opposite direction as well. Friction is reduced by use of mineral oil. Swedish massage can relax your muscles, increase blood circulation, remove metabolic waste and help you to feel more connected with your body’s and how you position it. One of the goals for Swedish massage is to speed the return of blood from the extremities (arms and legs). If you suffer from injuries, healing time can be hastened by flushing the soft tissues of lactic acid, uric acid and other metabolic wastes within the body. It can also stimulate the skin and nervous system while also relaxing the nerves. It is often recommended for stress management as well as in clinical or remedial therapy.

Shiatsu is a “system massage” because it is based on the body’s energy meridians. The recipient of the massage is fully clothed unlike in other massage therapies. The massage involved in Shiatsu is one closely related to acupuncture and involves a stretching and opening of “energy meridians.

Some employers, business conferences, and other workshop or social events that a portable massage unit would be practical use on-site massage or Chair massage. The person receiving the massage remains fully clothed. No oils are used.

Myotherapy and Trigger Point Massage are used for pain relief and to relieve muscle spasms and cramping. The major goal of this type of massage is to reduce spasm by creating new blood flow to muscles that have been deprived of blood flow due to injury. Our nervous system gives us feedback that it needs blood by sending sensations of pain, spasms and then pain again. The therapist will apply pressure to the trigger point for a short duration of time usually about 7 to 10 seconds per point. The therapist may hit the same trigger point several times during a session. A cooling agent, usually a spray often is then used on the areas. The muscles are then stretched to complete the relaxation process. Many call this technique “spray and stretch”.

Reiki is another popular massage therapy. It is a gentle healing technique used to reduce stress and relieve pain and facilitate healing in those who receive the massage by allowing the recipient to become one with the vital energy of the universe by channeling it through the practitioner and then energizing the various body systems on levels that will promote healing. The practitioner’s hands scan the client in order to perceive and treat areas that are sensed to contain reduced vitality.

Going To A Massage Therapist For The First Time

Med — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 17:58:52 +0000

Are you considering paying a visit to a massage therapist? Many people think that visiting a massage therapist is a good idea, but few people actually go forth and schedule an appointment. A lot of the time, this is due to a lack of knowledge regarding the procedures and what to expect upon your visit. In this article, we’ll go over some basic things that can help you to get a feel for what a visit to a massage therapist might be like.

One thing that holds many people back from visiting a massage therapist is a lack of knowledge regarding how much the procedure is going to cost. Massage therapist’s rates can vary to a large degree, with some charging twenty dollars an hour while others charge two hundred. Typically, you can expect the average massage therapist to charge a rate that is around a dollar per minute. If you would like to receive the benefits of massage therapy but you don’t have very much money to throw around, you may want to consider paying a visit to a massage therapy school where you can get a massage by a student for a cheaper rate.

Another thing that keeps people away from a massage therapy clinic is that they don’t know exactly where the massage will be performed. It’s a legitimate concern – since there are so many different types of massage therapy, the ways that they are performed vary from location to location. To that end, you should consider asking your massage therapist what types of equipment that they will be using to administer your massage. Some may use a massage table, which is usually very comforting and relaxing, while other types of massage, such as the traditional Thai massage may take place on a Yoga mat, which may be something that is unfamiliar and uncomfortable for you. Generally, it is the massage therapist’s job to keep you as comfortable as possible throughout the procedure, and so any good massage therapist that you visit should be able to make the experience a relaxing one for you.

Since massage therapy usually requires a few sessions for the treatment to be effective if you are rehabilitating from an injury, it can quickly become a pricy procedure. Luckily, some insurance policies cover massage therapy in their plans. Unfortunately, the differentiation in plans tends to vary from state to state, so you may not be able to get your therapy covered. Most extended plans tend to offer some form of assistance when it comes to helping you to pay for massage therapy, it is mostly just a matter of how much the company is willing to pay towards the treatment.

The benefits of massage therapy can be vast. It can help your body to heal quicker, it can release built-up stress that is found in your muscles while helping you to kick back and relax. To that end, you should do your best to not fear the therapy and instead embrace it. Learn all that you can about the procedures involved so that you will be completely comfortable with massage therapy and take the plunge!

Massage Chairs Used In Therapeutic Massage

Med — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:47:52 +0000

The massage table is the most commonly thought of massage equipment, the massage chair is unique in its effectiveness to massage techniques.

The late 1980′s is when the massage chair first came to be noticed in the massage world. The purpose of the chair was to help relieve stress, tension and back pain. The chair did not enjoy popularity at first, but soon became useful in imitating the Shiatsu and Swedish massage methods.

The chair’s main parts are the motors, nodes and rollers and the ability to adjust for weight, height, and width of the user. The massage chair motors are essential. They provide the power that moves he nodes and rollers as well as allow the seat back to be adjusted. The nodes and rollers vary in size and shape and are designed to emulate the therapist’s fingers and hands. Large rollers and nodes provide a more generalized massage experience. Chairs that have smaller nodes and rollers target specific areas of the user’s back and can move to adjust to where he user needs the massage.

There are those chairs that are computer assisted to give a more adjustable massage to the user. Most massage chairs are designed to automatically adjust to the Client’s needs regarding height, weight and width. The computer measures the pressure applied to the seatback in order to make these adjustments to the nodes and rollers. The computer also locates the actual anatomy of the client’s back to make the correct adjustments in height and width of the client

Massage chairs can have options; massage techniques and different levels of durability. Some chairs have adjustable strength functionality. There are chairs that have heat capabilities.

One best selling massage chair model has 6 motors, 8 rollers, 10 functions, speed adjustment, a rolling footrest, ultra quiet design, a built in S-shape spine detection, electronic recline and heat therapy for the soles of the feet….ahhhhh. This chair gives the user the strength and traditional feel of a shiatsu and Swedish massage simulating the hand motions of a masseuse but without having to leave the comfort of your home. The chair can do mechanical kneading, tapping and synch mode. The kneading simulates the thumb pressure techniques of the Swedish massage around the spine area, which is designed to get all the knots out of your back.

The massage chair also has features for comfort like detachable pillow pad, detachable back cushion, armrest, detachable seat cushion, controls, calf support. The controls have manual control options that the user can adjust the type of massage regarding the knead, knock, strength, hips and buttocks, and leg massage. The massage concentration control gives the user control over the massage for the whole back, the upper back including the shoulder and neck region and the lower back, which includes the hip region.

The chairs cannot replace the hands on human experience that a massage therapist can give you. They can give you privacy, and a massage anytime day or night that you need one.