Massage Therapy

		Massage Therapy In massage it is believed that when the body is touched so is the mind and that these two work as one unit. The skin and the nervous system are interconnected and the mind and emotions are affected by massage. With massage the hands are used to work the soft tissues of the body to achieve healing by many different touching techniques. The effects of these movements are many and they affect the body as a whole. Massage and Bodywork The term massage is classed in a larger category called massage and bodywork. These terms are broad and encompass many traditional manual therapies passed down through generations all around the world. Ayurvedic massage, Asian Bodywork Therapies (ABT), and Western massage and body work are the four main traditions that most systems of massage and body work come from. All these traditions may have different techniques, but the intention and desired results are the same in that they all treat the body as a whole and stimulate the body to heal itself. History of Massage and Bodywork Massage and other forms of body work go back to ancient times and can be found in societies all around the world. This form of healing is found in Native and folk cultures globally as well in the isolated places of the world where these people developed their own form of manual therapy. In the writings of these ancient civilizations such as Sumner and Rome , descriptions of massage that was highly developed can be found. Preserved through the Middle Ages by the monks in and Arabs in this form of healing was reintroduced to Europe in the Renaissance times. The Turkish bath evolved from the Roman baths and today one can find modern forms of this in the local Health Club. Shiatsu Massage Shiatsu Massage was developed from traditional Japanese Massage called Amma. A system of finger pressure to treat ailments was developed by Tokejuiro Namikoshi. It was later popularized throughout the world by his son Toru Namikoshi in the 1950-70's. Shiatsu (Shi-atsu) literally means finger pressure in Japanese. The technique of shiatsu massage is done by applying pressure along energy meridians and to acupoints with the thumbs, fingers or elbows to elicit desired response. Western Massage Western massage was developed by two men Pehr Ling from and Johann Mezgar from Amsterdam . The terms used for the techniques came from French words and are still used today. This massage movement came to in the late 1800’s and it was called the Swedish movement cure. The term “Masseuse” for a female and “Masseur” for a Male therapist were common in this era. This form of healing was most popular from 1920 to 1940 and it included other forms of heat and water therapy. It later lost its credibility as a therapeutic modality for health due to the misuse of some massage parlors for prostitution houses. Massage therapist today still deal with the after affects from this time of misuse. The correct term to use today is “massage therapist” and to be on the safe side look for a RMT. Make sure they have passed all the requirements set forth by the State; they have done the required hours of training and have passed a test to be registered. Today massage is recognized again by the medical community as beneficial due to the scientific study and validation of its benefits to health. Effects and of Massage Effects of massage refer to changes that occur in the body, mind, and emotions of the recipient during a massage session. (Benjamin & Tappan, p. 42) There are many different techniques in massage that have different affects on the body. The recipient usually has an intended outcome for the session. Together the therapist and the recipient develop a plan to best achieve the desired outcome of the session as well as successive goals to be achieved. This is usually achieved by the use of the Wellness Massage Pyramid (WMP) The WMP allows the giver and the receiver to determine what level of health they are at, what level is the desired goal to achieve, and what techniques need to be used to encourage the body to heal and achieve a higher level of wellness. This is a guide to track progress of healing and the idea is to move from the bottom which is illness or injury to recovery, then to prevention, to maintenance, to personal growth and then on to enjoyments of life. The effects of massage are many and the body is affected on all levels. It is important to note that the mind set of the recipient and their emotional state as well as their physical condition can vary the outcome of the session. One shouldn’t expect to see all the affects listed to occur in every session and different techniques used determine different outcomes. The massage effects are many and they are best summarized by Benjamin & Tappan in this chart. (p. 43) Physical Effects Tissue Level Enhance tissue repair Increase connective tissue health Improve pliability of fascia Break adhesions and separate tissues Organ system Level Integumentary system Stimulate sensory receptors in skin Increase superficial circulation Add moisture with oil or lotion Increase sebaceous gland secretions Facilitate healthy scar formation Skeletal System Promote good joint function Promote optimal joint flexibility and range of motion Promote proper skeletal alignment Muscular System “Milk” metabolic wastes into venous and lymph flow Promote specific and general muscle relaxation Promote optimal body flexibility Relieve myofascial trigger points Release myofascial adhesions Nervous System Stimulate parasympathetic nervous system (i.e. relaxation response) Reduce pain (Neural-gating mechanism) Sharpen body awareness Endocrine System Release of endorphins (with nervous system) Cardiovascular System Increase general and local circulation Enhance venous return Reduce blood pressure and heart rate Increase red blood cells in circulation Lymphatic System Increase lymph fluid movement And Immunity Improve immune function via stress reduction Respiratory System Encourage diaphragmatic breathing Relax muscles of respiration Promotes good structural alignment and rib cage Expansion Digestive System Digestion improved with relaxation Facilitate bowel movement Urinary System Enhance circulation to kidneys Increased urinary production and bladder tension Reproductive System Reproductive function improved with relaxation Promote general breast health Organism Level Growth and Development Improve growth and development in infants Pain Reduction Relieve muscle pain from tension and poor circulation Deactivate myofascial trigger points Activate neural-gating mechanism Induce release of endorphins and enkephalins Stress Reduction Trigger relaxation response Psychological Effects Increase mental clarity Reduce anxiety Facilitate emotional release Promote feelings of general well-being Benefits of Massage Massage is beneficial to all people young and old alike. This therapeutic technique is not limited any age or group and it is useful any many scenarios. Elderly Unfortunately one of the most over looked groups of people that could benefit the most from massage is the elderly. Many suffer from various disorders, but suffer mentally on a larger scale due to the lack of touch that they receive. Many sit in nursing homes without loving meaningful touch on a daily basis. Not only is the massage good for the normal effects of aging but the caring touch can do wonders to their mental health. Pregnant mothers The body of the pregnant mother goes through a lot of stress especially in the back and leg region. Massage can help the muscles relax and improve poor circulation. Massage can also to speed recovery of the labor and delivery. Infants For normal growth an infant needs tactile stimulation. The techniques are done in a calm gentle fashion. The benefits improve parent-child bonding, digestion, sleep and even colic. Work related stress Hours of sitting and working at a desk and computer cause stress to the neck, shoulders and lower back. Therapists have helped many people with 15 minute in-house sessions to relax and be more productive. Athletes The stress of training and competing on the athlete’s body is heavy. An athlete that is injured can have a speedier recovery with massage. The goal for most athletes with massage is to stay in top condition. Recoveries from strenuous work outs are quicker as well. Life Related Stress We all go through the death of a friend or family member, loss of a job, or loss of everything as so many experience the effects of natural disasters. The anxiety and emotional upsets can be helped with the relaxing effects of massage. An extra caring hand is always needed when these times in life occur. (Benjamin & Tappan, p. 58) The benefits and effects of massage have been experienced by all types of people of all ages in all types of situations all over the world for centuries. The idea of aiding the body naturally in a non-invasive way is not a new idea. Getting people to be involved in their own healing not only empowers them and their body but also gives them hope for their future. These people will be more positive and productive people as the results of massage therapy are realized and the goals of health are met. References Benjamin, P. J., & Tappan, F.M. (2005). Handbook of Healing Massage Techniques, (pp. 4, 42, 43, 58, 281, 313).