| Massage therapy has existed for thousands of years, and it has evolved into several types, all of which work for different bodies and for different conditions. Each have various benefits, and massage therapy as a whole can be a great supplementary treatment offered by many medical professionals. Understanding each type of massage can help you understand which type is best for you.
Swedish massage is the most common type of massage therapy. Swedish massage involves soft, long strokes as well as lighter and more rhythmic tapping strokes. It is best for relieving muscle tension, and it can energizing for some patients. It is often helpful to have a Swedish massage after an an injury. Sports massage is a type of Swedish massage that focuses on sports-related injuries. It is designed to help with those muscle systems for a particular sport, and can help athletes while they’re in training. Sports massages help reduce muscle strain, aid in healing after an injury, and promote flexibility that can help prevent future injuries.
A deep tissue massage uses much firmer strokes that are best designed for focusing on painful, stiff spots in your muscles. These slow, deliberate strokes apply pressure on the deeper layers of tissue, and help relieve chronic tension, back pain, and muscle injuries. A type of deep massage is Shiatsu massage, from the Japanese word means “finger pressure.” It uses rhythmic pressure on precise, targeted points on the body called acupuncture points. It helps relieve blockages at these points.
There are a few other types of specialized massage therapy. In thai massage, the client is moved into various positions to help mobilize joints, compress muscles, and can include acupressure. Hot stone massage uses warmed stones at acupressure points, used to massage or simply placed at these pressure points. It transmits heat into the body and is most often used for relaxing. Prenatal massage helps relieve the common ailments of pregnancy, and reflexology uses hand, thumb, and finger techniques to stimulate the feet. Reflexology is designed to promote health and well-being.
If you think that massage therapy may be right for you, speak to your healthcare professional beforehand. There are some patients, such as those with osteoporosis or patients taking blood thinners, should not undergo any massage therapy. It is said to relieve back pain, headaches, strained muscles, and other injuries, and even insomnia and anxiety. Massage therapy can be very beneficial to a variety of patients, so speak to a doctor about this treatment for your overall healthcare regimen.
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