Massage Therapy (Part 2)
The term massage therapy is used for the therapy that includes scientific manipulation of the soft tissues in the body, for the purpose of normalising those tissues. Massage therapy is comprised of several manual techniques that include applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, and/or causing movement of or to the body.
The exact origin of massage therapy is unclear,
but it is believed to the oldest health care practice known
to ancient civilizations. Over 4,000 years old Chinese medical
texts have references to massage therapy. The Western health
care practices have been advocating massage therapy since the
time of Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine. “The physician
must be acquainted with many things and assuredly with rubbing,” wrote
Hippocrates, in 4th Century BC.
Scientifically, massage therapy is known to affect the circulation of blood and the flow of blood and lymph, reduce muscular tension or flaccidity, affect the nervous system through stimulation or sedation, and enhance tissue healing.
There are a number of proven benefits of massage therapy, with allergies, anxiety and stress, arthritis, asthma and bronchitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive motion injuries, chronic and temporary pain, circulatory problems, depression, digestive disorders, tension headache, insomnia, myofascial pain, sports injuries, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction, all thought to benefit from massage therapy.
Massage therapy has been proven beneficial in alleviating muscle tension and stiffness, and offers respite from muscle spasms. It offers flexibility and a range of motion, increases of the ease and efficiency of movement, and offers relief from stress and aide of relaxation.
Massage therapy promotes faster healing of soft tissue injuries, such as pulled muscles and sprained ligaments, and reduces pain and swelling related to such injuries. It helps reducing the formation of excessive scar tissue following soft tissue injuries. It also Massage therapy helps improving skin health & nourishment. It facilitates promoting deeper & easier breathing and improves blood circulation and movement of lymph.
Learn also about Aquatic Massage Therapy.
Bringing you information on various types of massage including Thai, Swedish and Indian head massage.
Back to page 1 on massage therapy
