Massage is an alternative form of therapy that is practiced in the United States and in much of the rest of the world. Ancient in its roots, massage therapy is performed by therapists in spas and malls, on cruise ships, in chiropractor offices, as well as in healing centers and private practices. In fact, massage therapy is so popular that it is estimated that 18 million adults throughout the United States take part in massage therapy each year, according to National Institutes of Health surveys.
History
Massage therapy dates as far back as 3000 B.C., with mentions in the ancient Chinese book "Cong-Fu of the Toa-Tse." Although originally an Eastern practice, massage spread further West as time passed until it gained popularity in France in the early 1500s due to French barber surgeon Ambroise Pare. Massage finally gained popularity in the United States in the 1850s due to New York physicians George and Charles Taylor, and continues to be a popular practice in the United States.
Types
As massage spread, the practice evolved into many different styles. Now massage therapists provide multiple types of massage, including Swedish, deep tissue, hot stone, shiatsu, sports massage, reflexology, natal massage, trigger point and pregnancy massage. These types of massage can be done on massage tables, massage mats, massage chairs and even the floor, depending on the modality being practiced.
Process
General massage is used to manipulate the soft and connective tissues of the body. Massage is generally done by using the hands, fingers and elbows, but can also employ tools and devices to place pressure on the muscle tissue. Massage uses three main types of movements, including effleurage (stroking), tapotement (tapping or hacking), petrissage (kneeding) and friction. Each method affects the tissue in different ways and allows the practitioner to slowly peel back and reach the different layers of muscle and connective tissue.
Benefits
Massage therapy has both physical and psychological benefits, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Physical benefits may include muscle relaxation, increased circulation, pain reduction, increased flexibility, injury reduction, enhanced immunity, increased oxygen flow to the muscles and increased removal of toxins from the muscle tissue. Psychological benefits may include overall relaxation, as well as stress, anxiety and depression relief.
Dangers
Massage therapy comes with certain dangers involving contraindications, which are diseases, injuries or any other condition in which massage could potentially be dangerous. Contraindications can be localized, such as with lacerations of the skin and rashes, which allow massage to still be performed on unaffected areas of the body. Contraindications can also be system wide, such as a fever, contagious diseases or being under the influence of narcotics or alcohol, making massage not recommended until the contraindication is no longer present.
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