Massage Therapy

What is massage therapy?

Massage therapy is a general term for massage techniques used by massage practitioners.

The main ones are:

• relaxing or Swedish massage
• sports and deep tissue massage
• lymphatic drainage massage
• pfrimmer (cross muscle movements)
• therapeutic massage
• joint articulation.

Sports and deep tissue massage

Sports massage helps to enhance an athlete's training and performance. During training, it prevents injuries and after events it improves muscle recovery. Also it increases blood circulation and removes lactic acid (by-product of exercise), releases trigger points and reduces muscle pain.

Deep tissue massage releases muscle tension, breaks down scar tissue and improves muscle flexibility

Relaxation massage

Reducing stress is the basis of every massage treatment. Stress is the common denominator for many diseases. Relaxation massage decreases your body's response to stress: the fight/flight response. You'll experience a decrease in muscle tension, a slower calmer breathing pattern and mild drowsiness. Don't be surprised if your stomach gurgles. This is a good sign that your body is turning off the stress response and redirecting important blood flow to the abdominal organs.

Therapeutic massage

Therapeutic massage targets specific injuries, conditions or pain. It's used during acute, sub-acute or chronic stages of healing. During acute stages, a milder treatment may be used (lymphatic drainage) to reduce swelling and inflammation. In the later stages of injury, more aggressive techniques may be used such as joint articulation and trigger point release.

A study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience (Vol. 84, pp 205-217) and conducted by the Touch Research Institute of the University of Miami School of Medicine, reported that massage therapy improved immune function. The study also noted that those studied: "had reduced anxiety and cortisol (stress hormone) levels and increased relaxation."

A further study by Ironson and Maria Hernandez-Reif, Ph.D, Director of Research, University of Miami, studied 20 women with breast cancer over five years. A treatment group received massage therapy three times a week for five weeks; 80% showed an improved immune function. The non-treatment group didn't receive massage and only 30% showed an improved immune function.

Are there any conditions that are contra-indicated with massage therapy?

I'll give you a health appraisal before your first massage and we'll talk through any existing health issues you have. As a general rule anyone with an infected skin condition, an acute injury that hasn't been assessed or any open wounds should not receive massage therapy. And yes, pregnant women can receive massage and in certain conditions such as fluid retention, it's highly recommended.