What is Massage Therapy?

Massage Therapy is a type of wellness treatment in which a trained and certified professional manipulates the soft tissues of your body - muscle, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments, and skin - using varying degrees of pressure and movement.

Massage is generally considered part of complementary and integrative medicine. It's increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations.

Studies of the benefits of massage demonstrate that it is an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain and muscle tension. At the YMCA, massage therapy may be recommended to help people cope with the pain and stress of cancer, heart disease, stomach problems, fibromyalgia or other conditions.

What Are The Various Types Of Massages?

Swedish Massage:

A light massage that consists of long, smooth strokes. The benefits include increased blood circulation, decreased stress and muscle tension and improved range of motion.

Deep Muscle Therapy:

Designed to aid in the restoration of damaged muscles and soft tissue. With its natural healing properties, it helps restore circulation on the cellular level.

Therapeutic Massage:

Beyond relaxation, therapeutic massage can help address injuries or long-term or chronic health issues such as headaches or neck pain. It involves greater pressure and cross-fiber friction against the grain of a muscle, tendon, or ligament. You can get therapeutic deep tissue massage, which can be good for stiff necks, low back tightness, and sore shoulders. Or you can get a therapeutic sports massage that can help address injuries or pain from recurrent muscle use or strain. Sometimes therapeutic massage is prescribed as part of a larger therapy program for treating specific issues.

Chair Massage:

Chair massage is performed in a specially designed chair that helps people relax in a seated position. The technique focuses on tension areas of the neck, back, shoulders, arms and hands. Besides relaxing muscles, chair massages can sooth brain activity, increasing concentration and providing greater mental clarity.

Benefits of Massage Therapy?

While more research is needed to confirm the benefits of massage, some studies have found massage may also be helpful for:

Anxiety

Digestive Disorders

Fibromyalgia

Headaches

Insomnia Related to Stress

Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Soft Tissue Strains or Injuries

Sports Injuries

Temporomandibular Joint Pain