Massage
Modalities and Other Information
Acupressure
Acupressure
is an ancient form of healing believed by some to be even older than acupuncture.
It involves the use of the fingers (and in some cases, the toes) to press key
points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body's natural ability to
heal itself. Pressing on these points relieves muscle tension, which promotes
the circulation of blood and qi (pronounced "chee") -- the vital energy or "life force"
-- to aid in the healing process.
Acupressure
and acupuncture are somewhat similar. Acupressure is sometimes referred to as
"needleless acupuncture," because both
forms of healing use the same points to achieve the desired results. The main
difference is that an acupuncturist stimulates points by inserting needles,
whereas an acupressurist stimulates the same points
using finger pressure.
Stimulating
specific points on the body can trigger the release of endorphins (chemicals
produced by the body that relieve pain). When endorphins are released, pain is
blocked, and the flow of blood and oxygen to the affected area is increased.
This causes the muscles to relax and promotes healing. In acupressure, as with
most traditional Chinese medicine concepts, local symptoms are considered an
expression of the whole body's condition.
When
performed correctly, acupressure increases circulation, reduces tension and
enables the body to relax. Reducing tension, in turn, strengthens the immune
system and promotes wellness. However, applying acupressure too abruptly, or
using too much force during treatment, can lead to bruising and discomfort.
Great care should be used when applying pressure to points on or near the
abdomen, groin, armpits or throat. Special care should be when treating
pregnant women or those with recently-formed scars, burns, infections or skin
lesions.
Many essential
oils that are derived from plants, herbs, flowers, and roots have beneficial
therapeutic qualities. Aromatherapy involves the "burning" of
essential oils to elicit a desired effect; for example, lavender is known to
induce calmness and relaxation. When combined with bodywork, aromatherapy can
enrich the massage experience immensely. A few drops of essential oil can be
added to massage cream or oil and applied to the skin. Professionally trained aromatherapists also blend oils to treat specific conditions.
Only experienced professionals and/or those knowledgeable in the properties of
aromatherapy should attempt to blend oils or utilize them in practice, as some
oil combinations can be toxic, while others can burn the skin.
Ayurveda is a practice that originated in
Ayurvedic
massage incorporates the knowledge of ayurveda and
uses warm oils and herbs along the specific energy points to help restore
balance to the body. Massage strokes, oils and herbs are selected based on a
client's specific needs; hence, each treatment is highly customized. Benefits
of ayurvedic massage include vitality, stress
reduction, and relaxation. Proponents of ayurveda
also report a renewed sense of spiritual connection and inner peace.
Chair
massage, also known as seated massage, is fast becoming one of the most popular
ways in which to practice. Generally, chair massage is administered onsite at
various locations, including health fairs, airports, shopping
malls and in corporate settings. Clients remain fully clothed and treatments
generally last from 15-30 minutes. Chair massage is usually limited to the
back, neck and arms.
Deep-tissue
massage utilizes slow strokes, direct pressure or friction applied across the
grain of the muscles with the fingers, thumbs or elbows. Deep-tissue massage
works deeply into the muscles and connective tissue to release chronic aches
and pains; its purpose is to reach the fascia beneath the surface muscles.
Practitioners
must have a thorough understanding of the human body and have been trained to
administer deep-tissue massage. This technique is useful in treating chronic
pain, inflammation and injury.
Infant
massage has proved beneficial for both infants and their families on a number
of levels. It is used regularly in hospital neonatal units and has been linked
with helping premature infants gain weight. Infant massage has been shown to
help relieve colic, induce sleep, promote relaxation, improve sensory
integration, and enhance neurological development, among other things;
moreover, the practice of massage helps build the bond between babies and their
parents.
Lypossage combines several massage modalities
for the purpose of enhancing skin tone and firmness, and to combat the effects
of cellulite. Lypossage is often the preferred method
of treating cellulite, since it provides a noninvasive alternative to expensive
cosmetic surgery. Practitioners of lypossage usually
emphasize the importance of diet and exercise, as well
Practitioners
of medical massage have a strong background in pathology, disease, illness and
injury, and the contraindications of specific massage techniques related to
various medical conditions. Medical massage therapists frequently work under
the direction of or at the request of physicians.
Myofascial
release deals with the fascia, or connective tissue, of the body. The fascia is
interconnected to every other part of the body, and actually helps to support
the body's very structure, including the musculoskeletal system. When injury,
inflammation, or physical or emotional trauma occurs, the fascia can become tight
and cause pain and/or restricted range of motion. Myfascial
release -- as its name suggests -- aims to release the fascia and return it to
a state of normalcy by applying gentle pressure to the restricted areas. MFR
can help with a number of conditions, including chronic pain, headaches, and
stress-related illnesses.
NMT is
massage applied to specific muscles, often used to increase blood flow, release
knots of muscle tension, or release pain/pressure on nerves. This therapy is
also known as trigger-point therapy in that concentrated finger pressure is
applied to "trigger points" to alleviate muscular pain.
Orthopedic
massage combines several massage and medical massage techniques to treat pain
and soft-tissue injury. It focuses heavily on injury assessment and
rehabilitation, emphasizing the importance of selecting the appropriate
modality to treat the injury. Orthopedic massage is often used in conjuction with sports massage protocols.
Prenatal, or
pregnancy, massage uses gentle techniques to help alleviate some of the
ailments associated with pregancy, including lower
back, neck and shoulder pain; fatigue; joint tenderness; and stretch marks.
Prenatal massage can help improve circulation, promote stress reduction and
relaxation, and much more. Practitioners should be well-trained in prenatal
massage in order to deliver safe and effective care, and patients should check
with their doctors prior to receiving treatment.
Also
chi, ka and ji. The basis of traditional Chinese medicine revolves
around qi, which is considered a vital force or
energy responsible for controlling the workings of the human mind and body. Qi flows through the body via channels, or pathways, which
are called meridians. There are a total of 20 meridians: 12 primary meridians,
which correspond to specific organs, organ systems or functions, and eight
secondary meridians. Imbalances in the flow of qi
cause illness and correction of this flow restores the body to balance.
This
technique is based on a system of points on the hands, feet and ears that
correspond, or "reflex," to other areas of the body. Similar in
theory to acupressure, reflexologists believe that
applying appropriate pressure to these points stimulates the flow of energy,
thus helping to relieve pain or blockages throughout the entire body. A very
pleasurable form of bodywork, reflexology is also used to ease stress and
promote relaxation.
Shiatsu is a
Japanese form of massage therapy similar to acupressure; in fact, the word
shiatsu literally means "finger pressure." As with acupressure, the
concepts of shiatsu hold that it can promote health and facilitate healing by
correcting energy imbalances in the body. These imbalances are corrected by
applying pressure to specific points along channels in the body known as
meridians. While there is no exact date as to when shiatsu originated, the
technique is believed to be hundreds, if not thousands, of years old.
Shiatsu is
usually delivered with the thumbs. However, some practitioners will use their
fingers, palms, elbows -- and even feet -- to achieve the desired effect.
Typically, a shiatsu practitioner will apply pressure not just to a few points on the body. The goal here is twofold: to
release energy (qi in Chinese, ki
in Japanese - pronounced "chee") in areas
where it may be blocked or stagnating, and to bring energy back to areas that
are depleted.
In addition
to applying pressure, shiatsu practitioners may manipulate the soft tissue over
and around meridians, and perform passive and active stretching exercises as
part of treatment. Scientifically speaking, shiatsu is an excellent form of
pain relief. Research has shown that applying extensive pressure initiates the
release of endorphins, natural pain-killing substances produced by the body.
Shiatsu may also lower the levels of adrenaline and other stress hormones,
producing a relaxing effect.
This term
refers to several types of treatments generally performed in resort and day
spas. Some of these include manicures and pedicures, mud wraps, body scrubs,
sea salt scrubs, parrafin treatments, scalp
treatments, facials, and herbal and seaweed body wraps.
Sports
massage therapies are both preventative and therapeutic, and used for athletes
during warm ups, training and competition to treat and/or aid in the prevention
of injuries; help improve flexibility, range of motion, and performance; and
aid in mental clarity. Virtually every professional sports team employs
professional sports massage therapists, and are often
privately employed by professional athletes.
Generally
regarded as the most common form of massage, Swedish massage involves a
combination of five basic strokes and concentrates on the muscles and
connective tissues of the body for improved circulation, relaxation, pain
relief, and overall health maintenance and well-being. Swedish massage is also
one of the less demanding techniques for massage therapists to practice as it usually
does not involve deep tissue work.
Practiced in
Rather than
using a massage table, Thai massage is administered to fully clothed clients on
floor mats. Practitioners use their own body weight to position clients into
yoga-like forms while instructing clients on proper breathing for maximum
results.
Trigger
points are areas of soft tissue in the body characterized by local pain,
tightness, and tenderness. Often trigger points develop because of referred
pain, or pain from another source that has manifested itself in a trigger
point. Trigger points rarely refer pain to other areas.
Trigger-point
therapy seeks first to identify trigger points, then
apply steady, appropriate pressure to the point to "release" it. This
is usually followed by massage to the surrounding area to help treat the cause
of the trigger point. Clients are encouraged to drink a lot of water following
a trigger-point therapy session to flush out any toxins released when the
trigger point is released