Massage is a growing art in the United States. In 2008, there were 122,400 massage therapists across the country, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2018, the number is likely to hit 145,600, as more Americans, in both younger and older age groups, learn about the advantages of the practice. Massage therapy falls into the category of complementary and alternative medicine, which aims to improve health without conventional medications or surgical procedures. You should not rely on it to replace or delay regular medical care.
History
Massage has had an on-and-off history in the United States. It gained popularity starting in the 1850s when American doctors who had studied in Sweden brought massage techniques back home with them, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. It waned in the 1930s and 1940s as medicine focused on advances such as antibiotics. Interest returned in the 1970s as the general trend toward holistic medicine practices began to build. References to massage appear in ancient writings from around the world, including India, China, Greece, Egypt and Arabic countries.
Process
You can get a massage in a variety of settings, including a private office, a studio, a gym or, if you are staying there, a hospital or nursing home. Some massage therapists will come to your home. Generally you lie on a padded table and wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes or undress except for a towel or sheet. Sometimes the practitioner uses lotion or oil to cut down on friction. A session usually lasts between 15 minutes and 90 minutes.
Benefits
Massage can provide general benefits such as relaxation and comfort. But it also may yield more specific gains, reducing anxiety and depression, speeding healing of sports-related injuries, controlling pain, boosting immunity and reducing blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic. Research is still underway to confirm these effects.
Theories/Speculation
Scientists still are not sure how massage achieves its benefits, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. One theory is that it promotes the release of endorphins, serotonin or other "feel-good" chemicals. Another is the "gate control theory," which holds that massage stimulation helps to block pain signals from reaching the brain.
Types
Massage comes in numerous forms. Swedish massage involves deep circular movements as well as kneading and long strokes. Trigger-point massage centers on painful "knots" in the muscles, with the notion that they may be causing symptoms at other locations in the body. Reflexology concentrates on certain points on the feet and hands to create healing elsewhere. Deep tissue massage, according to United Massage Therapists, attempts to release chronic muscle tension.
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