Massage Therapty 101

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Original article:

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Massage 101: The World Of Touch

 

With more than 200 variations of massage, how do you know what's what, and

what's best for you?

 

By Carol Sorgen

WebMD Feature Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD

on Monday, September 08, 2003

 

 

Almost anyone - from infants to seniors - can enjoy the benefits of a good

massage.

 

 

Massage is one of the oldest healing arts. Chinese records dating back 3,000

years document its use. The ancient Hindus, Persians, and Egyptians applied

forms of massage for many ailments, and Hippocrates wrote papers

recommending the use of rubbing and friction for joint and circulatory

problems.

 

 

Today, the benefits of massage are varied and far-reaching, says Les

Sweeney, executive vice president of Associated Bodywork and Massage

Professionals (ABMP). Massage therapy has proven beneficial for many chronic

conditions, including low back pain, arthritis, bursitis, fatigue, high

blood pressure, diabetes, immunity suppression, infertility, smoking

cessation, depression, and more. And, as so many of us already know, massage

also helps relieve the stress and tension of everyday living that can lead

to disease and illness.

 

 

But with more than 200 variations of massage, bodywork, and somatic

therapies, how do you know what's what, and what's best for you? First, a

definition of the different therapy categories is in order, says Sweeney.

 

 

a.. Massage is the application of soft-tissue manipulation techniques to

the body, generally intended to reduce stress and fatigue while improving

circulation. It taps into the energy systems in the body.

b.. Bodywork includes various forms of touch therapies that may use

manipulation, movement, and/or repatterning to affect structural changes to

the body.

c.. Somatic, which means " of the body, " is often used to describe a

body/mind or whole-body approach as opposed to a physical perspective only.

 

According to William F. Burton, Jr., a professional massage

therapist/bodyworker and co-owner of the Enraptured Day Spa in Philadelphia,

most varieties of massage and bodywork therapies can be broken down into

four broad categories:

 

1.. Contemporary Western massage

2.. Oriental methods

3.. Structural/functional/movement integration

4.. Non-Oriental energetic methods

 

Here's a brief explanation of some of the more common techniques of Western

and Oriental massage.

 

 

Swedish massage: This is the predominant example of Western massage and is

the most commonly used method in the United States. Developed in Sweden in

the 1830s, it uses a system of long, gliding strokes, kneading, and

percussion and tapping techniques on the more superficial layers of muscles.

It is designed to increase circulation, which may improve healing and

decrease swelling from an injury. This technique also results in generalized

relaxation.

 

 

Neuromuscular massage: Trigger point massage and myotherapy are varieties of

neuromuscular massage, which applies concentrated pressure on trigger points

of pain and passive stretching of specific muscles.

 

 

Deep tissue massage: This approach is used to alleviate chronic muscle pain

by reaching deeper muscles in problem areas.

 

 

Sports massage: This uses techniques similar to deep tissue massage but more

specifically adapted to deal with the needs of athletes (both professional

and the weekend variety); it's often used before or after athletic events as

part of an athlete's training and to promote healing from injuries.

 

 

Manual lymph drainage massage: This approach improves the flow of lymph

fluid with rhythmic strokes and is used primarily in conditions with poor

lymph flow, such as edema.

 

 

 

 

Oriental methods of massage are based on the principles of Chinese medicine

and the flow of energy or chi through the body's meridians, or energy

points, says Burton. In Oriental massage techniques, pressure is applied by

finger or thumb tips to predetermined points rather than by the sweeping

broad strokes of Western massage.

 

 

There are more than a dozen varieties of Oriental massage and bodywork

therapy, but the most common forms in the U.S. are acupressure, shiatsu, Jin

Shin Jyutsu, and Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure.

 

 

Acupressure and shiatsu: These are similar varieties of finger pressure

massage, with pressure applied to specific points that correspond with

acupuncture points. In acupressure and shiatsu, pressure is applied to

specific points with the thumb, finger, and palm to release muscle tension

and increase circulation. Acupressure is the more generic term used for this

approach and shiatsu is the Japanese version.

 

 

Jin Shin Jyutsu: This approach comes from an ancient Japanese healing

tradition that uses touch to restore the internal flow of energy through the

body by releasing energetic blockages. In this therapy the touch is very

light a holds each pressure point for several minutes.

 

 

Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure: Developed by a California psychotherapist,

this approach applies stronger acupressure on the points and for a longer

period of time than does Jin Shin Jyutsu. It focuses on the deep release of

muscular tension through gentle yet deep finger pressure.

 

 

Thai massage: At least 2,500 years old, Thai massage focuses on balancing

energy. If you're receiving a Thai massage, you'll be placed into yoga-like

postures while the " Sen " energy lines are compressed rhythmically with

hands, thumbs, forearms, elbows, knees, and feet.

 

 

Tui Na: Tui Na has been used in China for more than 2,000 years. The

combination of massage and manipulation techniques is designed to improve

the flow of energy so the body can naturally heal itself.

 

 

The strokes that massage practitioners use also vary, as do their effects,

says Burton. A few of the more common strokes and their effects include:

 

 

a.. Feather stroking: soothing/sedative (may be ticklish)

b.. Fan stroking: soothing

c.. Circular thumb stroking: loosens tight areas

d.. Kneading: loosens and stimulates

e.. Skin rolling: stimulates

f.. Compression/pressure: breaks down muscular adhesions

g.. Percussion: stimulates (fast); relaxes (slow)

 

 

If you have a certain technique in mind, ask the massage therapist about his

or her training, suggests Jeanne Girard, a vice president of the American

Massage Therapy Association and a massage therapist in Canon City, Colorado.

" If the therapist doesn't have training in what you need, he or she will

refer you to someone who does. "

 

 

As beneficial as massage can be, there are some people who shouldn't have

one, says James Dillard, MD, DC, L.Ac, Oxford Health Plans' medical director

for complementary and alternative medicine and author of Chronic Pain

Solution. " You want to have intact skin, muscles, bones, and tissues before

having a massage, " says Dillard. That means if you have any fractures,

infections, active cancer, orthopaedic conditions, or skin problems, massage

is a no-no until you've recovered.

 

 

When choosing a type of massage, know what's best for you, says Dillard. " Do

you want a gentle, serene experience, or would you like more pressure? "

Don't be afraid to communicate with the massage therapist, he adds. Tell the

therapist about any medical conditions or concerns you have, and if you're

uncomfortable at any point during the massage, let the therapist know.

 

 

To get the most benefit from the massage, try to relax for the rest of the

day, Dillard says. " You want the glow to last. "

 

 

Having a massage on your lunch hour and then going back to a stressful

afternoon on the job is not a great idea, agrees Jeanne Girard. " Don't

overtax your body. "

 

 

Girard also suggests that you drink plenty of water before and after the

massage to help flush out the toxins that massage loosens up. (One other

piece of advice, courtesy of Dillard: If you do drink a lot of water before

the massage, make sure you go to the bathroom before the massage!)

 

 

Stretching beforehand allows the therapist to get into your muscle tissue

more easily, says Girard; when it's cold outside, a warm shower or bath

beforehand will also loosen your muscles.

 

 

And just how often should you have a massage? That's easy, says Dr. Dillard.

" As often as you can afford it! "

 

 

Thirty-three states require massage therapists to be licensed, says ABMP's

Les Sweeney. To find a practitioner near you, you can visit ABMP's web site

or the web sites of the American Massage Therapy Association, or the

American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia.

 

 

 

Published Sept. 8, 2003.

 

 

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SOURCES: Les Sweeney, executive vice president, Associated Bodywork and

Massage Professionals. William F. Burton, Jr., CMT, Enraptured Massage

Services. James Dillard, MD, DC, LAc, medical director, Complementary and

Alternative Health, Oxford Health Plan, author, Chronic Pain Solutio. Jeanne

Girard, vice president, American Massage Therapy Association.

 

 

 

© 1996-2003 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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