Massage Therapy

Definition of Massage Therapy

a profession in which the practitioner applies manual techniques, and may apply adjunctive therapies, with the intention of positively affecting the health and well-being of the client. Massage includes diverse physiological effects, which are primarily due to the therapist's hands moving over the body. The different movements can physically stretch muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia, boost the circulation through the tissue, inhibit muscular spasms and be either sedating or stimulating to the nervous system.

Massage can be done using any of the 200 odd techniques known to therapists worldwide, which include:

Sports Massage Swedish Massage Thai Massage Infant Massage Relaxation Massage and Zero Balancing The Oriental techniques that include massage as a form of therapy include: Acupressure, Shiatsu, Lomi Lomi, Jin Shin Jitsu, Amma Therapy, Chi Nei Tsang etc.

Massage Therapy operates on the foundation of different

types of strokes and oils that work on stress accumulated areas in an effort to achieve a relaxed mind and body. The different kinds of

Massage include: Back Massage, Neck and Shoulder

Massage, Chest Massage, Abdomen Massage, Face and Head Massage, Arms and Hand Massage, Legs and Feet Massage, Massage for babies and children and Massage during pregnancy. A variety of Massage techniques have also been incorporated into several other complementary therapies such as: Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Rolfing, Reiki, Hellerwork and Osteopathy.

Benefits of Massage Therapy

There are many beneficial effects of massage, including pain relief, stress reduction but also relief of many diseases. relieves pain from musculoskeletal injuries diminishes pain in fibromyalgia patients reduces chronic back pain more effectively than some other complementary therapies and easing post-operative pain

relieves tension headaches.

when combined with education and exercises massage might help subacute, chronic, non-specific low back pain reduces stress and decreases feelings of anxiety and depression and increase general well being

Massage increases pulmonary function in asthmatics , decreases glucose levels in patients with diabetes mellitus and increases natural killer cells in HIV and cancer patients Massage therapy also reduces blood pressure in stroke patients and alcohol detoxification symptoms. It also relieves temporomandibular joint dysfunction Massage can help with spastic diplegia resulting from Cerebral palsy. Massage has been used in an effort to improve symptoms, disease progression, and quality of life in HIV patients.

Contraindications

Abnormal body temperature (fever) Acute infectious diseases (e.g. severe colds, flu, typhoid ). Acute arthritis Acute inflammation due to soft tissue damage, Varicose veins. Light work or avoid the area entirely. Inflammation of a vein (phlebitis). Certain skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and bruises. High blood pressure not well controlled by medications - lighter work and get MD input.

Active cancer- not massage directly in an area that is cancerous. Very frail elderly - lighter work of shorter duration. Osteoporosis- lighter pressure and receive MD input. Alcohol intoxication- all types of bodywork are inappropriate if the client is intoxicated

Equipment
Treatment Tables Spa Chairs

Massage Chairs

Lotions and Oils