After a stressful day or a jam-packed week, aside from eating out and watching movies, a soothing massage can ease the burdens. Sometimes, even on a random day, massages are fantastic. Any bad day can turn into a good one with the relaxing ambiance, scented candles, the aroma of essential oils, and the massage therapist’s skills. However, while feeling good, massages can alleviate health concerns and medical conditions. Have you ever heard of therapeutic massages or massage therapies? In this blog, we will tackle everything you must know about massage therapy and all its kinds!
What is massage therapy?
A licensed massage therapist performs massage therapy wherein the treatment involves applying different movements, techniques, and pressures to control the body’s muscles and other soft tissues. The treatment aims to slow down your nervous system to release tension and stress, heal injuries, support wellness, and provide relief from symptoms.
Massage therapy dates back decades. It references writings from ancient Japan, India, Egypt, China, Arabic nations, Greece, and Rome. Eventually, it became widely used in Europe during the Renaissance, and when the 1850s came, two American physicians who studied in Sweden introduced the therapy in the United States. Massage therapy became popular, but when the advances in medical treatment during the 1930s and 1940s came, it fell out of favor in the U.S. However, the interest in massage was revived in the 1970s, especially among athletes. It has continued thriving through the years until now.
Who is massage therapy for?
Most of us can try massage therapy and can benefit from it. However, it is best to consult your doctor before trying any massage therapies available if you have a medical condition. Prenatal massage is also suitable for pregnant women to alleviate swelling and pain.
If you worry about not knowing what type of massage therapy is for you, you do not have to stress it out! You can always consult your massage therapist or choose randomly from their services. This practice is okay because massage therapists also mix and match different movements and techniques, depending on the client’s unique concerns.
What are the various types of massage therapy?
There are different types of therapeutic massages to choose from, and these are ten examples of the following:
- Swedish massage: This toning and relaxing massage uses time-tested European techniques to soothe aching, tight, and stressed-out muscles where pressure ranges from light to medium. Swedish massage is suggested for stress, anxiety, emotional fatigue, and insomnia.
- Deep tissue: This therapeutic massage uses deliberate and firm strokes and compressions for deeper pressure with long-lasting effects. The massage relieves tension in the deeper layers where the muscles are fatigued or stiffed.
- Hot stone: This massage is inspired by traditional Native American practices, which use heated stones to create a sense of balance and generate energy. Additionally, it also aids in relieving deep-seated muscle tension.
- Detoxifying massage: The detoxifying massage aids in relieving digestive issues, joint pain, hormonal imbalances, undesired swelling, and seasonal allergies. Detoxifying massage is a rhythmic massage technique that assists with moving lymph fluids throughout the body.
- Athlete’s recovery: This type of massage therapy uses advanced bodywork techniques in treating scar tissue, softening fascia, and releasing adhesions that restrict gait and function. It also eliminates trigger points causing pain while improving flexibility and restoring a more balanced and comfortable state.
- Prenatal massage: This massage is a gentle massage to de-stress, relax, and harmonize your body. Although the massage is excellent for alleviating swelling and pain during pregnancy, it is not recommended for the first trimester.
- CBD massage: CBD uses innovative hemp seed oil treatment to aid sore bodies and stressed minds. You can treat tired and achy muscles with active CBD oil combined with ultimate massage techniques.
- Reflexology: This massage therapy is based on an ancient therapeutic method of pain-relieving by stimulating pressure points on hands and feet. Reflexology calms the body’s nervous system and aids in alleviating discomfort in the area.
- Reiki: This massage technique is a Japanese technique to promote healing with light touch allowing life force energy to flow. Reiki helps with insomnia, stress, headaches, sprains, upset stomach, and other minor conditions.
- Cupping massage: This traditional Chinese cupping therapy is perfect for relieving muscular and internal congestion. Cupping massage is combined with full-body massage as it relieves tension in the deeper layers where the muscles are stiff and tired. It also sedates the nervous system and stimulates blood flow.
How does massage therapy work?
Massage therapists commonly work in different settings like private offices, nursing homes, hospitals, sports and fitness facilities, and studios. Some therapists also offer at-home services and travel to patients’ homes or workplaces. Despite the different settings, they try their best to provide a calm and soothing environment.
Therapists typically ask their new patients about their medical history, symptoms, and desired results. They can also evaluate touch to locate tight and painful areas. In this way, they can know how much pressure to apply.
The patient lies on a table, either wearing loose-fitting clothing or undressed, covered with sheets except on the areas to be massaged. The therapist may have the option to use lotion or oil to reduce skin friction. Aside from the choice of lying on a table, a patient can also get massage therapy while sitting in a chair. A massage session’s duration may be short and may take an hour or even longer.
What are the health benefits of massage therapy?
As said earlier, massage therapies are primarily excellent in helping improve conditions such as heart disease, cancer, stomach problems, and fibromyalgia. But aside from these, there are also several other benefits of massage therapy, and here are the following:
- Lessen pain and muscle tension: Several studies examine how massage may help lessen symptoms like neck, back, and knee pain and headaches. The results are short-term, but those who received a 60-minute massage several times a week had better results than those who received shorter massages.
- Relieves constipation: A study also shows that those who had trouble dealing with constipation after surgery significantly improved bowel movements through abdominal massage.
- Improves sleep: When you are being massaged, your cortisol or stress hormone is decreased while dopamine and serotonin levels are increased. Because of this, your mood stabilizes, which also helps in getting better sleep. Massages can treat insomnia issues and congestive heart failure, according to studies.
- Reduces stress and anxiety: A study claims that calm after a massage can help decrease anxiety and stress. A massage can also increase your parasympathetic response, the part of your nervous system that focuses on routine and day-to-day operations that lead to rest and relaxation. Because of this, it can decrease feelings of anxiety, which is why most clients opt for a massage.
- Improve immune function: According to studies, regular massage increases your body’s level of white blood cells, which we know work to fight viruses.
Massage therapies are great, especially with a trained professional massage therapist. If you are struggling to find one, we got you! In Elite Medspa + Wellness Center, massage therapy has never been better with their Science-led treatments for full-proof beauty! We are also gladly informing you that their medical director and founder is an expert in female wellness as a Board Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist and a member of the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine (AAAM) with more than 20 years of experience!
If you are more than exhausted dealing with life, a massage session will not go wrong! Contact the best medical spa near you and reserve a schedule for massage therapy today.
