Massage is an ancient healing art, dating back thousands of years. There are references to massage therapy in writings from ancient Greece, Rome, Arabian nations, China, Japan and India, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. In the United States, people receive massage therapy to reduce stress, relieve aches and pains, help with recovery from sports-related injuries, ease anxiety and depression and increase general wellness.
Types
The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork lists myriad massage modalities, each designed to address varying health complaints. Deep tissue modalities such as Rolfing, Hellerwork, acupressure, neuromuscular therapy and myofascial release address tension and rigidity in the deep muscles. Polarity therapy, therapeutic touch and reiki use a lighter touch to balance the human energy field. Pregnancy massage is specially designed to address the aches and pains associated with childbirth, prenatal and postnatal.
Benefits
The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine has devoted itself entirely to studying touch therapies in medical application since 1992. It has demonstrated positive results with massage in cases of anxiety, depression, Alzheimer's, ADHD, eating disorders and fibromyalgia, and its research details massage's ability to lower stress hormone levels, decrease pain and stiffness, reduce anxiety and increase blood flow, which leads to faster healing in muscle tissue.
Expert Insight
In a pilot research study conducted by the Prevention Research Center at the University of South Carolina, the effects of massage were compared to guided relaxation in a group of 49 adults 60 and older. "After completion of the sessions, results of the study showed the massage-therapy group experienced significantly positive changes in anxiety, depression, positive well-being, vitality, general health and perceived stress, compared to the guided-relaxation group," reported Massage magazine.
Potential
In a 1996 Touch Research Institute study, 60 children exhibiting behavioral problems were evaluated on the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Index, ranking high for post-traumatic stress. Children who received massage "reported being happier and less anxious and had lower salivary cortisol levels after the therapy" than the children who watched relaxing videos. Massage potentially could offer effective treatment to post-traumatic stress disorder sufferers, such as military veterans returning from war or victims of abuse.
Considerations
Although massage therapy appears to benefit general physical and psychological well-being, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine cautions that some conditions are contraindicated for massage. If you're taking blood-thinning medications, have advanced osteoporosis or other weakening of the bones, are pregnant or undergoing treatment for cancer, it's imperative that you consult a physician before receiving massage. Ensure that your therapist is properly trained and licensed so that you receive top-notch care.
References
- The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Massage Therapy: An Introduction
- National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork: Consumers Glossary: Therapy and Techniques
- Touch Research Institute: Research Abstracts
- Massage Magazine: Massage Therapy Shown to Reduce Stress, Enhance Well-Being
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