Massage therapy is one of the oldest health care practices known to history. References to massage are found in Chinese medical texts more than 4,000 years old. Massage has been advocated in Western health care practices at least since the time of Hippocrates, the “Father of Medicine.” In the fourth century B.C. Hippocrates wrote, “The physician must be acquainted with many things and assuredly with rubbing” (the ancient Greek term for massage was rubbing).
Massage involves working and acting on the body with pressure – structured, unstructured, stationary, or moving – tension, motion, or vibration, done manually or with mechanical aids.
Massage can be applied with the hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearm, feet, or a massage device. Massage can promote relaxation and well-being, can be a recreational activity, and can be sexual in nature.
While there are many documented benefits of massage there are also contraindications which include deep vein thrombosis, bleeding disorders or taking blood thinners such as Warfarin, damaged blood vessels, weakened bones from cancer, osteoporosis, or fractures, bruising, and fever. If you have a health condition and are unsure if massage is an option for you ask your healthcare professional.
Many types of practices are associated with massage and include bodywork, manual therapy, energy medicine, and breathwork. Other names for massage and related practices include hands-on work, body/somatic therapy, and somatic movement education. Body-mind integration techniques stress self-awareness and movement over physical manipulations by a practitioner. Therapies related to movement awareness/education are closer to Dance and movement therapies. Massage can also have connections with the New Age movement and alternative medicine as well as holistice philosophies of preventative medical care, as well as being used by mainstream medical practitioners.
Acupressure, Anma Massage, Aquatic Bodywork, Ashiatsu, Balinese Massage, Bowen technique, Breema, Biodynamic Massage, Champissage Massage, Craniosacral therapy, Esalen Massage, Foot Massage, Hilot Massage, Infant Massage, Kum Nye, Lomilomi and indigenous massage of Oceania, Lymphatic drainage, Medical Massage, Metamorphic Technique, Myofascial release, Namaste Massage, Paediatric massage, Postural Integration, Prostate Massage, Reflexology, Shiatsu, Sports Massage, Stone Massage, Structural Integration, Swedish Massage, Tantric massage, Thai massage, Traditional Chinese massage, Trager approach, Trigger point therapy, Tui na, Watsu.
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Disclaimer – Our intent is not to diagnosis but to offer information on therapy choices and practitioners. Information on this site is intended general educational purposes only. Any statements made are carefully referenced and any information, products or services discussed are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent any disease or illness. Please consult a healthcare practitioner before making a choice.
