Massage therapy is an ancient practice that has been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments. From sports massage to acupressure, there are many different types of massage treatments available to meet the needs of clients. In this article, we will explore the different types of massage therapy and how they can benefit the body. Sports massage is a type of massage therapy that is specifically designed to help athletes prepare for and recover from physical activity.
It can help reduce muscle tension, improve flexibility, and reduce the risk of injury. Prenatal massage is another type of massage therapy that is designed to help pregnant women manage the pain and discomfort associated with pregnancy. This type of massage should be done after the first trimester to reduce the risk of any complications. Acupressure is a type of massage therapy that is based on traditional Chinese medicine. It works by applying pressure to specific points on the body, known as meridians, with the fingers, thumbs, or other parts of the body.
Acupressure has been shown to be effective in preventing nausea, but many other health claims related to acupressure have not been proven. Aquatic bodywork is becoming increasingly popular in modern times. It involves using water as a medium for massage and can be used for relaxation, physical conditioning, and physical rehabilitation. Techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing and active progressive resistance can be used during aquatic bodywork. Ashiatsu is a type of massage therapy that involves using the feet to make dough-like movements on the body. The therapist will hold onto a bar attached to the walls or ceiling for support while massaging with their feet and body weight.
This allows them to apply more pressure without overworking themselves. Ashiatsu is often included in Asian styles of massage such as Chinese or Thai massage. Thai massage is an ancient form of massage that originated in Thailand. It combines assisted yoga stretches, Ayurveda, and acupressure. Thai massage does not use oil and follows a meridian system consisting of “sen” lines.
During a Thai massage session, you may also receive foot massages from the therapist while supporting your weight with a metal rod attached to the ceiling. Neuromuscular massage is a type of deep tissue massage that specifically targets trigger points that cause knots, muscle strains, and headaches. A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that people saw a significant drop in blood pressure after just 45-60 minutes of deep tissue massage. Corrective massage is designed to accelerate the return of venous blood from the extremities and eliminate lactic acid and other metabolic waste from the tissue. A study published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness found that sports massage can affect the cardiovascular system by dilating blood vessels and helping them work more efficiently. For those suffering from breathing difficulties due to Parkinson's disease or other conditions, careful and precise massage of the chest, shoulders, neck, and back can make breathing easier. Massage therapy can also help cleanse the body of impurities, break down toxins in muscles, and have a calming effect on anxiety.
Swedish
or relaxation massage is one of the most popular forms of massage in Western countries.It is often used in beauty or day spa environments as a luxurious and relaxing treatment for clients. Swedish massage consists mainly of assisted stretching and may include deep or rhythmic pressure. Deep tissue massage can be used to relieve chronic connective tissue pain but should not be used for acute osteoarthritis or when there is severe swelling, heat, pain, or redness. Sports massages are particularly effective but any type of massage that effectively relaxes muscles and tissues in hands and wrists can be beneficial.
Cameron Aubrey has more than 20 years experience in the massage industry and leads Discover Massage Australia as a course director. Cameron has a diploma in restorative massage and his experience covers a wide range of techniques including sports, Swedish, full body, and gentle massages. Massage therapy has been around for centuries as an effective way to treat various ailments. From sports massages to acupressure treatments, there are many different types available to meet individual needs.
In this comprehensive guide we will explore all types of massage therapy and how they can benefit your body.
Sports Massage
is specifically designed for athletes who need help preparing for physical activity or recovering from it. It helps reduce muscle tension, improve flexibility, and reduce injury risk. Prenatal Massage is another type which helps pregnant women manage pain associated with pregnancy - it should only be done after first trimester though to avoid any complications.Acupressure is based on traditional Chinese medicine which works by applying pressure on specific points on your body known as meridians with fingers or thumbs - it has been proven effective in preventing nausea but other health claims related to it have not been proven yet. Aquatic Bodywork uses water as medium for massaging which can be used for relaxation, physical conditioning or rehabilitation - techniques like diaphragmatic breathing or active progressive resistance are used during this type of treatment. Ashiatsu involves using feet to make dough-like movements on your body - therapists hold onto bars attached to walls or ceiling for support while massaging with their feet and body weight which allows them to apply more pressure without overworking themselves - this type is often included in Asian styles like Chinese or Thai Massage. Thai Massage originates from Thailand - it combines assisted yoga stretches with Ayurveda & acupressure - it follows meridian system consisting of “sen” lines & you may receive foot massages from therapist while supporting your weight with metal rod attached to ceiling during session.
Neuromuscular Massage targets trigger points causing knots & muscle strains - according to Journal Of Alternative & Complementary Medicine people saw significant drop in blood pressure after 45-60 minutes session - Corrective Massage accelerates return of venous blood from extremities & eliminates lactic acid & metabolic waste from tissue - according to Journal Of Sports Medicine & Physical Fitness sports massages affect cardiovascular system by dilating blood vessels & helping them work more efficiently - those suffering from breathing difficulties due to Parkinson's disease or other conditions can benefit from careful & precise chest/shoulder/neck/back massages which make breathing easier & also help cleanse body from impurities & break down toxins in muscles while having calming effect on anxiety. Swedish or Relaxation Massage is one most popular forms in Western countries - it's often used in beauty/day spa environments as luxurious & relaxing treatment for clients - it consists mainly of assisted stretching & may include deep/rhythmic pressure - Deep Tissue Massage relieves chronic connective tissue pain but should not be used when there's severe swelling/heat/pain/redness - Sports Massages are particularly effective but any type which relaxes muscles & tissues in hands/wrists can be beneficial too. Cameron Aubrey has more than 20 years experience in this industry leading Discover Massage Australia as course director - he has diploma in restorative massage & his experience covers wide range techniques including sports/Swedish/full body/gentle massages.
