What Type of Massage Therapy Is Right For Me?
Okay, you have decided to get a massage. Maybe you just want it to help you relax, or maybe you are experiencing physical problems. Or maybe you just see it as a way to make yourself feel a little bit pampered. Next you need to decide what type of massage is right for you. How do you choose?
There are several types of massage that skilled therapists are trained in. Here are some of your options.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage targets the deep tissue structure of the muscles and connective tissue. Deep tissue massage focuses on the release of muscle tension and chronic knots (also known as adhesions).
Deep tissue massage can break up and eliminate these adhesions, which are scar tissue from previous injuries. A common problem is that stressed muscles can block nutrients and oxygen from getting to where they need to go, which causes inflammation that allows toxins to build up in your muscle tissue. This buildup contributes to pain and stress. Once the toxins are broken up and released, the muscles are loosened and blood and oxygen can circulate through the body.
Myofascial Release Massage
Myofascial release massage is a safe and very effective technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure into the myofascial connective tissue to eliminate pain and restore motion.
Trauma, inflammatory responses, or surgical procedures create myofascial restrictions that can produce extreme pressures on pain sensitive structures that do not show up in many of the standard Western medical tests (x-rays, myelograms, CAT scans, electromyography, etc.).
Therapists use many myofascial release techniques and movement therapy. Myofascial release treatment sessions are usually performed directly on the skin without oils, creams or machinery. This enables the therapist to accurately detect fascial restrictions and apply the appropriate amount of sustained pressure to facilitate release of the fascia.
Hot Stone Massage
In hot stone massage, water-treated stones are placed at specific sites on the client's body to promote relaxation and to help open up the meridians or energy pathways. Muscles are pretreated with the heated stones to allow the therapist to more easily perform deep tissue manipulations. Cool stones are sometimes used alternately with hot stones. Massage oils are usually incorporated into the massage treatment.
There are many benefits of hot stone massage. They include:
- Promotes deep muscle and tissue relaxation'
- Releases toxins
- Alleviates stress
- Relieves pain
- Improves circulation
- Calms your mind
There are also a wide range of health conditions treated with hot stone massage. These include:
- Muscular aches and pains
- Back pain
- Multiple sclerosis
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Stress and anxiety
- Circulatory problems
Sports Massage
Sports massage was designed for athletes, but it is useful for anyone with chronic pain, injury or range-of-motion issues. Sports massage emphasizes prevention of injury and healing of injuries to the muscles and tendons.
You don't have to be in the Olympics to benefit from sports massage. It is also good for anyone with injuries, chronic pain or restricted range of motion. The massage therapist generally concentrates on a specific problem area. Most common areas are sore neck, back and shoulders.
So now that you know more about types of massage available to you, go ahead and get one. And, most importantly, enjoy it!
About the Author:
Stephen Kelly is a entrepreneur and freelance writer. Be sure to check out this Brookline Physical Therapy website for more great articles like this one.
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