Massage – A Tried and True Method - Part 1

According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, massage therapy is a practice dating back thousands of years. References to its uses have been found in ancient writings from Greece, Rome, Japan, China, and Egypt.

Massage therapy first became popular in North America in the mid-1800s. It was done for a variety of health reasons, and complemented with the mineral essentials of natural hot spring resorts so fashionable at the time. In the 1930s however, because of advancements in other medical treatments at the time, massage therapy fell out of general favor. However, in the 1970s it made a return, due in part to athletes who discovered its benefits in preparing for, or recovering from, strenuous workouts.

Massage is used in both conventional and alternative medicine therapies. There are more than 80 different types of massage therapy.

The well-known Swedish massage uses long strokes, kneading, and finger pressure on tight or knotted muscles. Trigger point massage uses deeper, more focused pressure on knots that form in muscles. Shiatsu massage applies varying, rhythmic pressure from the fingers on parts of the body that are believed to be key to the flow of vital energy called chi.

In all types of massage, therapists apply pressure and movement mostly with the use of their hands and fingers. However, forearms, elbows, and feet may also be a part a therapist's technique.

Why Massage Therapy?

Experts estimate that nearly ninety percent of disease is stress related. Now more than ever it's imperative that people make the most of self-care options to help decrease and manage stress levels. Massage, the application of soft-tissue manipulation techniques to the body, has been shown to reduce stress and fatigue while improving circulation.

People are often stressed in our culture. Stress-related disorders make up between 80 to 90 percent of the ailments that bring people to family-practice physicians. One of the complaints heard frequently is that physicians don't touch their patients any more. Years ago, massage was a big part of nursing. Now nurses for the most part are as busy as physicians.

In a Massage Journal interview, Dr. Joan Borysendko states, "I believe massage therapy is absolutely key to the healing process not only in the hospital environment but because it relieves stress. It is obviously foundational in the healing process anytime and anywhere."