What’s Massage Therapy?
Anyone who has ever heard of the word massage may have some idea of what it is and what it is supposed to do. In fact, massage is one of the oldest forms of healing or treatment. The Ancient Greeks, Indians, Egyptians, and Chinese have all believed and stood by the wonderful benefits of getting a massage – and its therapeutic effects can still be witnessed even to this day. Over the years, massage therapy has become a staple practice. Nowadays, you can even choose from a variety of styles suitable to treat body ailments. According to an employment projection done by the NSC, the latest data shows that the number of massage therapists in the next five years will grow and will likely reach 18,000 by 2026.
What is massage?
Massage is the general term for a practice wherein several hand motions are made to the skin, muscles, and tendons, such as pressing and rubbing, as a form of healing. These types of massages may range from light to deep pressure and may typically come in different types.
What are the benefits of getting a massage?
When we talk about integrative medicine or the use of several combinations of both therapies and lifestyle changes as a way to heal or treat an individual, massage immediately comes to mind. For the past few years, massage or massage therapy has become a standard form of treatment for a variety of medical and physical conditions.
Some more benefits of massage are the following:
Massage can reduce the effects of stress and can increase relaxation;
It can reduce pain and soreness in the muscles and tendons;
Massage helps with circulation and improves energy and alertness;
Massage can also help with lowering heart and blood pressure;
It also helps with immune function;
Massage therapy has been proven to help or treat several conditions, such as:
Anxiety
Depression
Headache
Fibromyalgia
Stress related Insomnia
Nerve pain
Soft tissue injuries
Sports injuries
Lower back pain
Upper and back pain
Myofascial pain syndrome
Massage is not only beneficial to individuals with a medical condition. It has also helped people to experience feelings of comfort, care, and connection. But it is also essential to understand that it should not be considered as a form of replacement for medical care. Always let your doctor know what type of massage therapy you are trying. At the same time, make sure that you follow any treatment plans your doctor has provided for you.
While massage has many benefits, it can pose some risks, especially for people with certain conditions. Some information that you need to know before trying massage are the following:
Massage may not be suitable for patients with bleeding disorders or those who are taking blood-thinning medications
It is also not ideal for people with burns or healing wounds
Those with deep vein thrombosis and infections
It may not also be suitable for individuals with fractured bones and severe osteoporosis
It can also be dangerous to people with severe thrombocytopenia or a meager platelet count
Always discuss the risks before trying any massage therapy with your doctor. It is also important to point out that while it may leave a person feeling a bit sore the next day, massage shouldn't be unusually painful or uncomfortable.
What are the different kinds of massage therapy? `
As we have said, massage comes in various forms. Here are some of the most common types of therapies that you can try depending on your condition or if you just want to feel more relaxed.
Myotherapy
This form of massage involves both the assessment and treatment of pain experienced in the soft tissues and injury that affects the individual’s mobility and movement. The primary purpose of getting the myotherapy is to maintain not just the function but the overall health of the soft tissue structure, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, and the fascia of the body.
Remedial Massage
Remedial massage is focused on objectively assessing and treating the signs and symptoms brought by biochemical dysfunction or muscles that have been damaged, tense, or immobile due to certain conditions in the brain. These conditions may have caused mental retardation or delay, neurological handicap, epilepsy, or behavioral problems. Remedial massage utilises specific mobilization techniques in order to help the patient regain function and restore normal health in the body. It is also helpful in addressing other health problems.
Lymphatic Drainage Massage
If you are looking for a gentler form of massage, lymphatic drainage massage is a good choice for you. This type of massage is focused on a body treatment that helps relax the nervous system that could also improve the body’s immune system. The lymphatic drainage massage is about performing a gentle massage on the body’s tissues responsible for increasing the circulation of lymph fluids. The massage is performed with light pressure and long strokes.
Deep Tissue Massage
The deep tissue massage is typically best suited for individuals having musculoskeletal issues or, simply put, muscle problems like soreness, injury, some tightness, imbalance, and chronic muscle pain. These issues are usually brought about by sports injuries. This type of massage targets, not just the deep layers of the muscles but the tissues surrounding them as well. The massage therapist performs the deep tissue massage by using slow and deliberate strokes and helps relieve chronic tense muscles like a back sprain.
Sports Massage
From the name itself, sports massage was designed and developed to aid the muscle systems of athletes by using different approaches before, during, and after the training. Sports massage promotes and improves flexibility, reduces anxiety, and prevents any future injuries that athletes may experience. It is also helpful in fixing muscle strains and speeding up healing after a sports injury to improve overall athletic performance. Athletes may experience repetitive injuries, so this is a good option if you are playing a sport.
Aromatherapy
This form of massage makes use of essential oils taken from selected flowers and plants. These scents are typically added to the oil during the aromatherapy massage for their therapeutic properties. For instance, sandalwood is one of the most popular scents to relieve nervous tension. This is best suited for people who enjoy massages with scented oils and those who want an emotional experience brought by the healing components of these scents. It's also supposed to help boost the mood, reduce anxiety and symptoms of depression, and relieves physical pain.
Reflexology
Reflexology is a type of massage wherein the focus is on pressure points. The massage therapist puts gentle to firm pressure on these pressure points of the hands, ears, and feet. It is considered to be best suited for those who want to experience relaxation and restoration in their natural energy levels. It is a good form of massage for individuals who are not too comfortable with overall body massages, as it is only done in certain parts of the body. Reflexology is also instrumental in achieving a night of restful sleep and reduced anxiety and pain.
Shiatsu
Shiatsu, or "finger pressure," is a Japanese type of massage that is especially great for individuals who want to feel relaxed and experience relief from pain and symptoms of stress. Massage therapists use various rhythmic pressure on specific points of the body, also known as acupressure points, which are believed to play a massive role in the flow of the body's vital energy, also called chi. Many experts believe that it can help relieve blockages and promote overall relaxation. It also helps reduce headaches and may improve mood.
Thai Massage
Contrary to its name, Thai massage did not originate from Thailand, but it was first done in India and has been around for 2,500 years. The traditional Thai massage has been initially regarded as a "healing art." It has been heavily influenced by Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine. Thai massage is known to have plenty of health benefits, such as relief from headaches, relief from back pain, and joint stiffness, and helps reduce anxiety and increase energy. The massage therapist uses not just their hands but thumbs, elbows, forearms, and feet with Thai massage. What sets it apart from other kinds of massage is the combination of stretching and movement.
Chair Massage
If you are looking for a quick massage that mainly focuses on the back, particularly the neck and shoulders, a chair massage is a good option for you. It's a great type of massage, especially if you are new to this form of healing practice or treatment, which uses light to medium pressure. The chair massage is known to relieve the effects of stress and promotes relaxation, especially for those extremely busy individuals. The individual remains fully clothed during the session and will sit down in a chair specially designed for this massage for 10 to 30 minutes.
How can you find the best massage place in Perth?
Because of the several kinds of massage therapy, it is natural to become confused about which will suit your needs. So, what are the things you must remember before choosing a massage therapist?
The best thing you can do to find the most suitable massage therapy and therapist for you is to ask your doctor for a recommendation. Doctors have connections, and at the same time, you can ensure that the form of massage is safe and will not affect your medication in any way.
Another way to help you narrow down your search for the best massage place is through recommendations from friends or loved ones. You can also research online and talk to different therapists to find out which one will be more suitable for you. Do not be afraid to ask questions.
Always make sure that the massage therapist is adequately trained and certified. You can always check their credentials. Before your session, have a brief conversation with them and ask everything you want to know so you become more comfortable with them so you can completely relax.
What types of massage are the most common in Western Australia?
Massage comes in different kinds. Perth, in particular, offers a variety of massage therapy, but the most common are Swedish (the classic) massage and Remedial massage. Generally speaking, massage therapy is both safe and effective for everyone of all ages. Massages like Swedish massage and remedial massage are great for people to experience relief from pain and tension. The primary purpose of these both massages is to promote relaxation and increase energy.
There's no specific preparation that is needed before your massage therapy session. However, you should expect your therapist to ask you about your medical history and what you are hoping to get from the session. Depending on your preference, it is common for your massage therapist to use oil or lotion to reduce the friction on your skin.
What are the signs to look out for if you may be needing a Swedish and remedial massage?
If you are experiencing muscular aches and pains
You get constant headaches or migraine
You have been having chronic issues for a long time
You are experiencing radiating pain down the arms or legs
You can feel some tension in your entire body
If your body needs more energy and relaxation;
As what we have previously said, massage therapy is not a replacement for medical care. However, it should not be treated as a luxury but as a necessity because our bodies constantly work hard. The weight we impose on our bodies, not just physical weight but emotional as well, can be damaging, so it's good to treat ourselves to a much-needed break once in a while. Remember that self-care should never be taken for granted. Check out Cloudform Massage for more information about our offerings and services.
