Massage TherapyA well-trained massage practitioner employs his hands as finely tuned yet powerful tools to promote wellness. As awareness grows and misconceptions fade regarding the value of massage therapy, more and more people are discovering the profound benefits available to them through regular body work. The origins of therapeutic massage are rooted in the common instinctual response to hold and rub a hurt or pain. It is found in all cultures as an integral part of health care and maintenance. Hippocrates, the father of western medicine, considered massage of prime importance in any health regime. Galen and the Romans also greatly prized the healing benefits of massage. With the re-emergence of holistic health theories and therapies, therapeutic massage is experiencing a renaissance and is regaining its rightful place among health care practitioners. SWEDISH MASSAGEWhen most people think of massage they think of “Swedish massage” Swedish massage is a classic western massage technique which combines kneading and long strokes to improve circulation and that relax and loosen muscles. The techniques applied in Swedish massage are gentle and rhythmic. Five basic strokes, all flowing toward the heart, are used to manipulate the soft tissues of the body. Therapists use a combination of kneading, rolling, vibration, percussive and tapping movements, usually accompanied by the application of oil, to reduce friction on the skin. Swedish massage shortens recovery time muscular strains by flushing the tissue of lactic acid, uric acid and other metabolic waste and it speeds the venous return of un-oxygenated blood and toxins from extremities. Even though the pressured is relatively light, this treatment still has therapeutic benefits including an increased blood flow, increased muscle tone, improved oxygenation to the muscles and of course, relaxation. For someone who has never had a massage before, Swedish massage provides a great introduction.Benefits Of Swedish MassageSwedish Massage and Its BenefitsEffleurage= The first and most frequently used Swedish stroke is effleurage(ef-flur-ahzh).The term comes from the French word effleurer, which means” to flow or glide” Benefits of Effleurage • Repeated effleurage warms the tissue and makes it more extensible. • It relaxes the client and prepares the area for deeper strokes. • Effleurage soothes an area after deep work. • It soothes place too painful for deep work. • It aids in moving wastes out of a congested area(also known as flushing). • Effleurage creates length in a muscle, if applied with fiber direction, while broadening and stretching the muscle and fascia and provides passive stretching to superficial muscle groups. • It dilates capillaries and increases circulation. • It increases lymphatic circulation if applied with light pressure. • It soothes tired and achy muscles • Effleurage aids in the relief of insomnia. Petrissage Technique= Grasp and fold of skin with the hands in a C formation. Lift up the skin and the underlying muscle tissue with palm of one hand and compress. Benefits of Petrissage • Petrissage increases blood flow. • It works out toxins. • It reduces local swelling. • It relieves general fatigue. • Petrissage improves cellular nutrition. • It mechanically relaxes the muscle. • It lifts muscle belly away from the underlying bone, stretching and broadening the muscle. • Petrissage psychologically creates a sense of space in the muscle. • It has a deeper circulatory effect than effleurage and addresses tension under the surface. • It reduces muscle soreness and stiffness. • Petrissage invigorates or stimulates the nervous system. • It softens superficial fascia and can loosen adhesions. • Petrissage skin rolling produces analgesia by stimulating the release of pain-relieving chemicals, such as endorphins.
Friction= comes from the Latin word, frictio, meaning “to rub.” Friction typically follows petrissage in a sequential order of Swedish massage strokes. Benefits of Friction • Friction generates heat. • It dilates capillaries and increases circulation(hyperemia). • It loosens stiffness in joints by relaxing muscles. • It improves the glandular action of the skin. • Friction reorganizes collagen and facilities its proper parallel pattern. • It mimics muscle broadening and stretching that occurs in normal muscle movement. • It reduces trigger and tender point activity. • Friction breaks down and coaxes apart adhered tissue, freeing restricted areas. Percussion or Tapotement=Percussion comes from the word percussio which means “a striking.” Tapotement is a French derivation of an Old French term taper that means a “light blow,” which in turn was derived from Anglo-Saxon taeppa, meaning to “tap,” in the sense of draining fluid from a cavity. At first, this may seem like a strange etiology, but interestingly enough, the mechanical impact of the topotement techniques is still used by respiratory therapist and nurses to loosen phlegm congestion in the lungs. Benefits of Tapotement • It stimulates nerve endings initially, becoming more sedative if continued. • It aids in decongesting the lungs by loosening and mobilizing phlegm in the respiratory tract. • Tapotement tones atrophied muscles if applied briefly. • It increases local blood flow ( histamines and acetylcholine vasodilators are released.) • It accesses deeper structures such as hip rotators. • It creates an “ultrasound” effect manually. • It relieves pain, perhaps due to the gate theory. • Tapotement can desensitize a hypersensitive area because of the release of corticosteroids from nerve axons after about 15 minutes of tapotement stimulation. This are the four mayor techniques used in a Swedish massage and its benefits . Its exercise with out the pain. Jose Aguilar Fitness Expert/ Lic.Massage Therapist JJsinnovation@aol.com C. 786-266-5353 TUINA MASSAGEPronounced “twee-nah” is a traditional Chinese massage therapy That has been practiced in China for over two thousand years. The term “Tuina” translates into “push-grasp” in Chinese. The massage aspect of Tuina involves the use of Pressing, tapping and kneading to remove blockages along the meridians of the body and to stimulate the flow of “chi” and blood to promote healing. This therapy is based on traditional Chinese medical practices and, in addition to massage techniques, it incorporates, acupressure, manipulation, musculoskeletal and ligament us realignment techniques, stretching, and medicated oils and salves to help restored balance to the body. It is that by bringing about a balanced and harmonious flow of energy throughout the body, that the body may more effectively heal it self. Tuina can be used to relieve symptoms associated with certain musculoskeletal disorders as well as chronic stress related disorders of the digestive, respiratory and reproductive system.SHIATSU MASSAGEshiatsu is a traditional form of Japanese pressure point massage. Shiatsu is a Japanese word meaning “finger pressure” A shiatsu massage may incorporate not only the use of finger pressure, but also pressure by the therapist thumb, palms, knees, forearms, elbows and even feet. Pressure is applied to areas of energy lines[known as meridians] to promote good health by stimulating the bodies energy flow.SPORTS MASSAGESports massage is a sensible blend of traditional Swedish Massage and Shiatsu. It was developed by Jack Meager, who is the official masseur for the U. S. Olympic Equestrian Team. Basic to the system is the fact that there are twelve principle body postures that form the axis of all athletic movement. Each sport demands that the player attains specific postures; hence, each sport tends to strain the muscles at certain predictable points. Sports massage can help heal strained muscles and allow healthy ones to reach peak action and to maintain it, with less risk of injury.
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