Massage therapy and physical therapy are practices designed to maintain and improve body conditioning and functioning. Massage therapy is part of alternative and complementary medicine and includes structured movements for manipulating skin, muscles, ligaments and tendons. Physical therapy is a health care profession that provides care to people with limited abilities to move and may include therapeutic exercises, manual therapy techniques and adaptive equipment.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is a touch therapy involving techniques for palpating and moving soft tissues of the body. According to MassageTherapy.com, "the massage system may include, but is not limited to, such techniques as, stroking, kneading, gliding, percussion, friction, vibration, compression and passive or active stretching within the normal anatomical range of movement." Swedish massage is the most common massage form and includes effluerage, a stimulating palm stroke, petrissage, a muscle lifting technique, and tapotement, a striking movement.
Benefits of Massage
Massage therapy can ally with standard medical treatment for a wide range of medical conditions. The Mayo Clinic reports, "while more research is needed to confirm the benefits of massage, some studies have found massage helpful for: stress relief, managing depression and anxiety, pain, stiffness, blood pressure control, infant growth, sports-related injuries, boosting immunity and cancer treatment." Additionally, as a passive exercise, MassageTherapy.com indicates that massage provides benefits including stretching tight muscles, stimulating lymph flow, increasing joint flexibility and improving circulation.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapists develop fitness and wellness-oriented programs for maintaining and restoring movement and function. Limited movement can be the result of age, injury or disease. According to the United States Department of Labor, after assessing movement dysfunction, treatments can include "therapeutic exercise, functional training, manual therapy techniques, assistive and adaptive devices and equipment, physical agents and electrotherapeutic modalities." Physical therapy specialties include cardiopulmonary, neurologic, geriatric, orthopaedic and pediatric.
Benefits of Physical Therapy
The United States Department of Labor reports that "physical therapists provide care to people of all ages who have functional problems resulting from, for example, back and neck injuries, sprains, strains and fractures, arthritis, burns, amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, conditions such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida, and injuries related to work and sports." The physical therapist creates a plan to promote movement, reduce pain, restore function and prevent disability. The therapist also works to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs.
Medical Considerations
The Mayo Clinic advises to "discuss massage with your doctor first in cases of: unexplained pain or other symptoms, burns or open wounds, cancer, blood clots, fractures, rheumatoid arthritis, severe osteoporosis and pregnancy." Massage therapy is not a replacement for regular medical care. Physical therapists work in hospitals and outpatient clinics and may consult with other professionals including physicians, dentists, nurses, educators, social workers, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and audiologists.
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