For thousands of years, massaging has been used to help with different health conditions and promote overall wellness.
Today, multiple massage therapy techniques have evolved, and presently, there are over eighty different massage techniques.
Different methods use different amounts of pressure and hand movements and stimulate or relax different body parts. Sometimes, even the elbows, feet or forearms are used for a massage.
More people are trying out massages because of the health benefits that massage therapy comes with. The different styles are used to relax the body, heal injuries, or even help with a specific health condition.
Often massage therapy helps a lot with chronic pain. So, here are some of the massage techniques explained.
The Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is the most common technique that is in use. It is a versatile technique that can be used for relaxation, stimulation or even for healing from injuries.
It is a combination of long kneading and short tapping strokes applied to the upper muscular layers. Plus, it also makes use of the movement of the joints. Swedish massage can effectively relieve muscle tension.
The massage technique is further divided into four categories: Effleurage, Petrissage, Friction, and Tapotement.
- Effleurage is focused on relaxation with soft, smooth, gliding strokes.
- Petrissage is what comes after Effleurage. It consists of a squeezing and rolling motion.
- Friction consists of deep and circular movements that increase blood flow and breaks down the scar tissue.
- Tapotement is the final part where a short tapping massage is done with the edge of the hand or cupped hands.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep Tissue Massage is a great option for dealing with those pain points. If you have any physical injury you are recovering from, chronic pain, or other troubled spots in your body, the deep tissue massage will help.
The massage therapist will make sure of slow strokes focused on the deeper tissues beneath your skin. It will affect the tendons and the muscles.
For those suffering from back pain or lower back pain, deep tissue massage can be quite beneficial. A glutes massage that focuses on the tissues and joints can often ease the pain.
Shiatsu Massage
Shiatsu means “finger pressure” in Japanese. This technique makes use of rhythmic pressure on certain parts of the body.
The therapist will use their fingers to massage certain pressure points of the body. The points are known as the acupressure points. These points are considered to be vital when it comes to the energy flow of the body.
Massaging these points can relieve blockages. A Shiatsu Massage is generally a relaxing experience and can be quite helpful after a long week.
Hot Stone Massage
Hot Stone massage involves placing warmed stones on acupressure points. The stone can also be used as a massaging tool. The stones are smooth and rounded, and massaging with them often helps alleviate joint pains, relaxes the body and the muscles.
Often therapists combine hot stone massage with other techniques to provide better relaxation. Hot stone massage can transmit heat deep within the body. This makes them a great way to reduce muscle and joint pain.
Sports Massage
Sports massage is a particular set of techniques that are developed for athletes only. The massage therapists use multiple methods to prepare an athlete before an event or a training session, energize the athlete during the games and even relax afterwards.
Sports massage is something that can help everyone – from Olympic gold medalists to casual weekend joggers. The techniques generally focus on parts of the body that are stressed from intense, repetitive motions.
Sports massage reduces the recovery time of athletes by addressing the muscle soreness that they experience after a session. Even a thirty-minute butt massage can improve the hip flexor’s motion. Getting sports massage once or twice a week can also promote faster healing from injuries.
Chair Massage
As the name implies, the therapist massages the client while sitting in the chair, in a fully upright position and fully clothed. This is quite common in offices, in airports and even in festivals. Chair massages mostly focus on the arms, neck, and shoulders. Even the back and the hands are massaged.
A lot of offices have included chair massages to keep employees healthy and energized. A chair massage can be helpful for those who cannot give their time for long massage sessions and need something quick for relaxation.
Reflexology
This massage technique uses the hand, fingers, and thumb to stimulate specific areas of the feet. Different areas of the feet have nerve endings that pass through different parts of the body. Massaging the feet essentially stimulates or relaxes the nerves. This type of massage is expected to promote better overall health.
Pregnancy Massage
Pregnancy massage is a combination of various massage techniques that help reduce discomforts during pregnancy. The body goes through significant changes during pregnancy. Women often suffer from stress, leg and arm swelling, joint pains and so on. There are specially designed pillows that can help one get into a comfortable position.
What is the best massage style?
Massage therapy has evolved a lot over time. Some time back, acupressure was quite popular. Now, Swedish massage techniques are popular too.
However, not everyone likes every style of massage. What message is right for you depends upon your requirements and what you will personally enjoy.
Moreover, how much time you want to give also matters. Massage therapy sessions can last from five minutes to a couple of hours.
For an effective massage therapy session, you need to be comfortable with your therapist and communicate with them. You need to let them know if you want stress control, relaxation, or pain management. The style of massage also depends on your age and physical condition.
How can massage benefit you?
Here are some of the ailments that massage therapy can help with:
- Back pain: Massage therapy is excellent for chronic back pain.
- Depression: Multiple clinical trials have shown that massage therapy can help with depression as well as a generalized anxiety disorder.
- Headaches: Headaches respond well to massage therapy. Massages can help with a migraine and can induce better sleep.
- Osteoarthritis: Swedish massage is particularly significant for osteoarthritis. An hour-long session a couple of times a week can improve the mobility of joints and can reduce pain.
- Cancer: Massage therapy can be used as a complementary treatment to the side effects of cancer medication. Massages can help reduce the swelling, fatigue, nausea, pain and other side effects of cancer treatment.
