Massage therapy involves structured movements for manipulating skin, muscles, ligaments and tendons. Among the most popular massage techniques for men are deep tissue, trigger point and Russian sports massage. These forms of massage provide therapeutic benefits by targeting the dense muscles where men hold tension. According to the Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, because scientific evidence on massage therapy is limited, "scientists are not yet certain what changes occur in the body during a massage, whether they influence health, and, if so, how."
Deep Tissue
Deep tissue techniques involve the use of knuckles, fists, forearms and elbows to apply pressure to the sub-layers of muscles. These movements can be useful for men with thick, developed muscle tissue. Art Riggs, author of "Deep Tissue Massage: A Visual Guide to Techniques," writes that "lengthening short muscles and relaxing spasms and adhesions offer great relief for many of the complaints our clients present--especially in the postural muscles of the back, such as the erector spinae and trapezius muscles." More research is necessary to determine the benefits of deep tissue massage.
Trigger Point
Trigger point techniques involve pressure point stimulation of knots in the muscle tissue. Trigger point massage can be beneficial for men with symptoms of repetitive muscle strain. According to Clair Davies, certified massage therapist and author of "The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook, Your Self Treatment Guide For Pain Relief," trigger points are "characterized chiefly by referred pain but can be responsible for a variety of other discomforting effects including numbness, tingling, burning, swelling, hypersensitivity, muscle weakness, joint stiffness and a wide variety of autonomic symptoms." The effectiveness of trigger point massage on specific health conditions has not been scientifically concluded.
Russian Sports Massage
Russian sports massage primarily consists of kneading movements. These techniques can treat overuse injuries such as sprains and strains which trouble active men. Russian massage instructor Zhenya Kurashova Wine indicates that when massaging overuse injuries and first degree sprains and strains, where little or no swelling is involved, "the goal of the treatment would be to increase circulation and improve elasticity." For second and third degree sprains and strains, "the primary goal with massage, if surgery is not required, would be to reduce swelling and decrease pain," says Wine. There is not enough medical evidence to conclude the effectiveness of Russian sports massage.
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