Massage therapy and bodywork have become much more mainstream in the last decade. According to the American Massage Therapy Association in Evanston, Ill., 49 percent of consumers said they have considered massage in the last year, compared to only 38 percent in 2008. Statistics from the U.S. Division of Labor indicate that the number of massage schools is also on the increase. In response to this abundance of training venues and willing clients, massage therapy has become widely available in most areas of the United States.
Defining the Terms
Massage therapy is the application of various techniques of touching or rubbing the body intended to bring about positive changes in the patient's physical or mental health. Bodywork is a similar term that often includes stretching, taking joints through normal ranges of motion or other techniques also intended to bring about positive changes in the patient's body. While most Western forms of massage therapy and bodywork are based on physiological form and function, many Eastern forms focus more on impacting the body's energetic system.
Licensed Professionals
The majority of massage therapists and bodyworkers attend training classes at approved schools to learn how and when to apply massage, the different types of massage, and basic anatomy and physiology. Approximately four out of every five states in the United States require people who practice massage to obtain a license, according to the American Massage Therapy Association. Some localities also have additional health or business license requirements for massage practitioners, and some employers may also require that employees obtain additional education in specific types of massage.
Some Popular Styles of Massage and Bodywork
For many years, relaxation was a primary reason clients in the United States sought massage. Two of the most common types of relaxation massage are Swedish and Esalen, both of which are applied with the specific intent to cause the patient to relax mind and body and become less stressed. In recent years, there are also a number of styles of massage emerging that focus on the treatment of various medical conditions, most of which are orthopedic in origin. Predominant styles include trigger point therapy, neuromuscular therapy and myofascial release. Additional styles are targeted to specific user groups, such as sports massage for athletes, and infant massage for babies and young children.
Location
The location of a massage practice depends upon the needs of the patients or clients. Relaxation massage is often offered at spas and resorts, but it can also be found in private clinics or even provided at the client's home by a visiting practitioner. Medical massage may be offered in private clinics or hospitals, but it is frequently available directly at the referring physician's office. Sports massage is most often performed onsite at the sporting event itself, or in a clinic devoted to athletic performance. Infant massage is commonly taught to parents to be performed in their own home.
Significance
More and more people are considering getting a massage. The reasons range from a desire to cope with stress in a nonpharmaceutical manner, a need to address specific aches and pains or in response to illness or injury. Some seek massage and bodywork to improve their athletic performance or to enhance overall health. There may be some conditions, however, for which massage may be contraindicated, such as medical problems involving the circulatory system, skin damage or metastasizing situations.
In general, massage and bodywork function to allow the body to heal and balance itself by optimizing internal circulation, relaxing tight muscle tissue, reducing stress or correcting energy imbalances. Many recipients have found these effects to be beneficial and receive massage and bodywork as part of their ongoing lifestyle.
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