You'd be hard-pressed to find too many people who don't find getting a massage enjoyable. Because of that, massage can be relegated to a "special treat" status for people who want to pamper themselves with a day at the spa. But according to the American Massage Therapy Association, or AMTA, research is starting to support the belief that massage therapy is "an effective complement to medical care."
History
The actual word "massage" comes from either Arabic or Greek origin. The Arabic word "mass" means to touch, and the Greek work "massein" means to knead, says Massage Therapy101. The true origin of massage therapy is unknown and records of different types of massage techniques are found in a variety of cultures. These all come together to form what we now experience today when we go get a massage. "The Yellow Emperor's Classics of Internal Medicine," written by the Chinese in 1000 B.C., is the oldest book known that discusses massage therapy as a treatment for illness and injury.
Benefits
AMTA states that since 2007, nearly 70 percent of doctors have responded favorably to their patients seeing a massage therapist in conjunction with other treatments. Benefits of massage include relieving lower back pain, helping breast cancer patients to emotionally and physically cope with their disease, boosting immune function and alleviating pain after bypass surgery, according to the AMTA.
Types
There is a wide variety of massage techniques. According to AMTA, the four most common are Swedish, deep tissue, chair and sports. Swedish massage is designed to relax and energize the body and is the most common massage technique of the four. Deep tissue massage is much more intense and best for those suffering from a back, neck or shoulder injury. Chair massage focuses on the upper body and does not require the patient to undress. Sports massage takes on a preventive role, helping athletes stay limber to avoid potential injury.
Research
"MASSAGE" magazine reports on a 2005 study conducted by Swedish researchers at Karolinska Institutet and published in "Complimentary Therapies in Clinical Practice." The researchers used healthy men as the subject of the study. Some received massages on their back, neck and chest while others were massaged on their face, arms and legs. The remaining men received no massage and were told to go about their daily activities while the others received 30-minute massages twice a week. The results showed, especially in the back, neck and chest group, that stress-related high blood pressure did decrease.
Risks
The Mayo Clinic brings awareness to some potential risks that one should be cautious of before getting a massage. In rare cases, internal bleeding, nerve damage, temporary paralysis and allergic reactions to massage oils have taken place. A doctor should especially be consulted before making an appointment for a massage if a person is pregnant, diagnosed with cancer, suffering from unexplainable pain or has fractures.
References
- American Massage Therapy Association: Research Confirms Massage Therapy Enhances Health
- Mayo Clinic: Massage: Get in Touch with Its Many Health Benefits
- "MASSAGE"; Research: Swedish Massage Lowers Blood Pressure; April/May 2006
- American Massage Therapy Association: Choosing a Type of Massage
- Massage Therapy 101: History of Massage Therapy
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