An Unbiased View of massage therapy waterloo



Massage therapy is an alternative medicine that has been gaining in popularity at a rapid rate. The field of massage therapy has not only grown in size but also in the availability of therapists, massage studios and clinics that offer massage. There is no question that most people would love to get a massage. What people don't realize about massage is that it not only feels good and relaxes the body, spirit and mind, but it actually is healing to the body, muscles and soft tissues.

Massage therapy dates back to the B.C. era to ancient civilizations such as Greek, Roman, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Egyptian and Mesopotamian. Now massage is all over the world. In China massage is considered part of their primary healthcare and is taught in medical schools. Massage therapy was introduced to the U.S. in the 1800's. Its progression in the American medical scene has been rocky and slow. Throughout the early 1900's massages influence decreased due to technological advancements in medicine, however massage regained its reputation in the early 60's and 70's as professional athletes began to use massage therapy within their health routine. One huge deterrent for massage therapy as an alternative medicine and as a profession was the unsavory characters that used massage therapy to advertise sexual services.

Selling and buying sex or sexual services is illegal in the U.S. and several other countries. Therefore using the cover of massage therapy, massage parlors offer sexual services after the purchase of a massage. For a while massage had become infamous for this type of service, which damaged its reputation. Overtime, true masseurs slowly but surely regained the reputation of massage therapy as a therapeutic healing treatment.

Now massage is a huge industry with thousands of schools, clinics, and therapeutic work settings as well as licensing and credentialing within each state. Even though massage parlors still exist, their presence remains largely in the seedy hoods and ghettos. Today when you mention massage therapy people don't think of sexual favors but rather a relaxing and pleasing experience. Massage therapy has recovered its respect as a healing art through manipulation of the body and muscle tissue.

The average person would tell you that massage therapy involves rubbing the body with lotion or cream that is relaxing and feels good. This interpretation of massage, although correct in layman's terms doesn't explain what massage therapy is or how it affects the body. Massage therapists manipulate the soft tissues of the body to enhance function, promote relaxation, reduce muscle spasms, pain and inflammation, reduce nerve compression, decrease myofascial trigger points, increase range of motion and joint flexibility, reduce blood pressure, improve posture, calm the nervous system, and improve circulation.

Massage involves manual manipulation of the soft tissue through pressure, motion, vibration, and tension. Based upon specific patient problems will determine the areas that a massage therapist will work on. Techniques can be applied through the hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearm, or feet depending upon the type of massage. As well as determining the specific tissue to target whether it be a muscle, tendon, ligament, skin, joint, connective tissue, lymphatic vessels or organ. There are numerous types of massage techniques. Some of the common massage techniques include Ayurvedic, deep tissue, sports massage, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, reflexology, medical massage, Swedish massage, stone massage, Thai massage, and shiatsu. In addition to the techniques, there are several different strokes that massage therapist must use such as effleurage, petrissage, tapotement, mobilization, trigger point therapy, neuro-muscular, manual lymphatic drainage and manual traction.

Although massage is considered a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), it is becoming increasingly part of the medical world. Massage has a variety of settings including health clubs, health clinics, doctor offices, private offices, nursing homes, sports facilities and hospital settings. Massage therapy is used in conjunction with several other medical professions such as chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy, personal training and sports trainers.

Whatever the reason you get a massage, it is a great therapeutic modality to relieve stress, tension, anxiety, headaches, neck pain, back pain and several other physical or mental problems. If you haven't experienced a massage yet then its time you had one. Because it not only has positive effects on the body but on the mind and spirit as well, many people include massage in their health regimen. As your friends for recommendations of a therapist near you!

Massage therapy is a broad term used to describe various techniques of manual (hands on) therapy which is used to promote tissue health, relieve pain and increase functionality of a body, be it human or animal. The type of massage therapy which will benefit an individual varies greatly according to his or her particular issue or injury and state of health. There is something for everyone, and it is wise for clients to investigate their options to find what works for them.

The most commonly recognized type of massage is Swedish Massage, developed by Per Henrik Ling in the late 1700 and early 1800's. Swedish massage techniques consists of long, smooth strokes (effleurage), tissue kneading (petrissage), or tapping (tapotement), and can be used to either relax muscle or increase its tone depending on the application and technique. Pressure can be very light or deep, depending on the therapist, your needs and your tolerance to pressure. During a massage therapy treatment that primarily consists of Swedish techniques, other modalities, which may require specialized or further training, can be used.

Relaxation, sports, pregnancy, infant and geriatric massage all contain elements of Swedish techniques.

Relaxation massage tends to be slower and more rhythmic than a treatment oriented therapeutic massage and its primary goal is to increase relaxation of the client. In infant massage, therapists teach parents how to work on their own infants, which is a great bonding experience and may help parents relieve colic and help their babies sleep better. For special populations or conditions, such as pregnancy or geriatric massage, the application of techniques needs to be modified to suit the needs of the client.

Sports massage therapy consists not only of Swedish techniques, but also of stretching, including "active inhibition" techniques, and can be performed either pre or post-event. Sports massage therapy that is performed pre-event uses quick, rhythmic movements to warm up and stretch the muscles, preparing them for the demand to be placed on them. Post-event sports massage is slower and is done to relieve pain, swelling, assist in the removal of metabolic waste and to decrease recovery time. Massage therapy for athletes and fitness enthusiasts is also a great maintenance tool which can address muscular imbalances and injuries and help them achieve optimal performance.

Deep Tissue Massage Therapy basically consists of Swedish techniques which are used at a deeper level of the tissue. To perform any type of massage effectively, but especially deep tissue, the muscles must be warmed up at a superficial level to allow the therapist to go into the deeper layers and address restrictions found there. It is advisable for therapists who want to practice "deep tissue" to get and have a hi-lo table specialized training to help hem maintain their own body, back and joint health. It is advisable for new massage therapy clients to work up to a deep tissue type of therapy as it is not suitable for everyone and may be painful for someone who is not accustomed to manual therapy.

Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy is also know as trigger point release. A myofascial trigger point is a hyperirritable area within a tight band of muscle. The goal of this therapy is to remove the trigger or reduce point, thus alleviating pain. Referral pain often has a very specific pattern depending on the muscle in which it is found, and can often present in a seemingly unrelated area. Trigger point therapy is integrated into Swedish massage treatments which assists in warming up and stretching the tissue pre and post release respectively.

Frictions or Friction therapy is a very localized, specific technique used to break down adhesions and scar tissue which may cause pain and inhibit movement. Friction therapy is not used alone, but is integrated into a routine where Swedish techniques are used to warm up the tissue and to aid circulation to remove metabolic waste post friction.

Myofascial release therapy, also called fascial release, consists of manipulation and stretching of the fascia - connective tissue which encases muscles, nerves, organs and bones in the body. To properly engage the tissue and anchor, no oil or other mediums are used, as "glide" over tissue is ineffective in most myofascial techniques.

Manual lymph drainage, also called lymphatic, lymph or lymphedema massage, is a series of gentle movements used to stimulate the flow of lymphatic fluid in the body, thereby relieving pain and congestion. This type of therapy is perfect to assist in the reduction of swelling post injury, and is also used to reduce swelling post surgery. MLD, as it is commonly known, is also used with great success for women who have a mastectomy, however, special training is required for therapists to treat when lymph nodes have been removed.

In most massage therapy training, the focus is primarily on Swedish techniques, but the above modalities may be learned as an adjunct to Swedish massage, or as continuing education.

Active release is a patented therapy which encompasses various movements while tissue is being manipulated. The term "active" refers to the fact that the patient voluntarily contracts his or her muscles as techniques are applied. This therapy requires specialized training and certification.

Craniosacral Therapy - is a gentle manual therapy developed by William Garner Sutherland, a student of Osteopathy, in the early 1900's. Craniosacral therapy, or CST, is believed to work by addressing soft tissue restrictions around the central nervous system, which in turn affect the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid. Craniosacral therapy often relieves pain, induces deep relaxation and may encourage a more restful sleep.

Shiatsu is a manual therapy originating in Japan, and consists of finger pressure along various meridian or energy points throughout the body. Shiatsu is believed to work by removing any blockages along the meridians so energy travels more freely and the body can function normally.

Throughout the early 1900's massages influence decreased due to technological advancements in medicine, however massage regained its reputation in the early 60's and 70's as professional athletes began to use massage therapy within their health routine. Some of the common massage techniques include Ayurvedic, deep tissue, sports massage, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, reflexology, medical massage, Swedish massage, stone massage, Thai massage, and shiatsu. The field of massage therapy has not only grown in size but also in website the availability of therapists, massage studios and clinics that offer massage. Throughout the early 1900's massages influence decreased due to technological advancements in medicine, however massage regained its reputation in the early 60's and 70's as professional athletes began to use massage therapy within their health routine. Some of the common massage techniques include Ayurvedic, deep tissue, sports massage, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, reflexology, medical massage, Swedish massage, stone massage, Thai massage, and shiatsu.

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