Swedish massage is the most common and the one that has been mainly popularized in the west. Swedish massage is most commonly associated with massage therapy and it is based on long kneading motions. The idea behind Swedish massage is to workout any knots or tight sections built up in the muscle fiber.

Swedish massage is very effective for sports recovery. People find it to be highly relaxing and of great assistance with recovery. It increases circulation and helps break up lactic acid that can be built up due to difficult strenuous workouts. Swedish massage can be quite vigorous and you may find that you have to communicate with the massage therapist in order to find your sweet spot. The massage is supposed to border on uncomfortable but should not actually cause pain. Massage therapist will usually target areas that you communicate to them or will find areas of excess knotting. Swedish massage will continue to be popular because it is highly effective and priced fairly reasonably.

Expect a Swedish massage to last anywhere from 30 – 90 minutes and cost in the range of $1 to $2 per minute.

Hot stone massage is another type of massage that is quickly gaining popularity. It is similar to Swedish massage in that it is often used to treat injuries. During a typical hot stone massage the therapist will place warm stones on parts of the body that the therapist is trying to loosen up. This may be a tight muscle or an area of discomfort. The therapist will focus on meridians in the body based on the eastern practice of acupuncture.

This type of massage is kind of an east meats west massage that borrows ideas from both cultures. Many people that find a swedish massage too vigorous or uncomfortable may find that a hot stone massage is more relaxing. Masseuses typically do not apply as much pressure during a hot stone massage.

The stones themselves are normally river stones, that’s surface has been highly polished. Basalt rocks, which have a high iron ore content are usually used because they are able to hold heat for a long period of time. The stones are usually heated in a warmer with a thermostat and will be handled before they are placed on the body to ensure that they are the proper temperature.

Hot stone massages may last longer than a Swedish massage and generally cost a little bit more.

Shiatsu massages are another type of massage that has made it over from the east. This type of massage is based on the same principles as acupuncture. Massage therapist will focus on the body’s chi or energy flow by targeting meridians or chakras. This type of massage is done with the tips of the fingers on each of the pressure points of the body the same way that an acupuncturist would focus on certain areas.

A shiatsu specialist can target certain parts of the body with specific intentions. Shiatsu may be used to treat a wide variety of ailments but will most likely not be a relaxing or stress relieving as other forms of massage.

A shiatsu massage is also done with the clothes still on and without massage oil. If you have never experienced this type of treatment you will be in for a bit of a surprise it is not like your typical massage.

There are many other types of massage or different combinations. Thai massage is another very common form and many massage therapist will also use aromatherapy along with their specialty. I will continue to expand on the information here and in the future discuss other forms of massage.

• You must not brag. No one likes a bragger and you must realize that saying anything like, I had a great massage today,” will immediately sound like bragging and be interpreted as such. Unfortunately very few people want to hear how good you have it. Now walk lightly here because you do not want to sound disingenuous, but complaining, just slightly may be a good way dispel some massage envy.
• As mentioned before not many people really want to hear about how good or bad you have it, so one way to combat massage envy is to simply keep it to yourself. I know this may be difficult considering how exhilarating and relaxing a great massage can be, but if you want to avoid those envious stares and jealous prods, keep it to yourself.
• This is another to be careful with. If you are getting massage therapy to combat some type of an injury you may want to consider actually faking it. And by this I mean when you are in the presence of others you will put on an act. I know it sounds very L.A.ish, but that is beside the point. You are trying to avoid massage envy here, so the point is to make them feel sorry for you instead. I didn’t say it would be easy or even ethical.
• Now here is a real charitable possibility. If you are aware of a certain friend or family member that has some serious massage envy you could consider floating the bill and taking them along to enjoy a massage of their own. The point of this is to build major good will and karma points and maybe even get them hooked. You will at some point have to transition over to getting them to cover their bill but hey, that is why crack dealers hand out samples.

You may not experience any negative aspects of massage envy, but many do and they actually find massage envy to be the only noted side effect of getting a good massage.

Massage therapy can be a quick 5 minute head massage or a much longer deep treatment. Appointments are usually booked in 30 or 60 minute blocks with pricing being highly variable. Many people will only get a massage once in a blue moon but for massage.com/massages-healing-touch-for-pain-management” target=”_self”>chronic conditions or physical therapy a patient may schedule a series of appointments.

Massage therapy is usually complemented greatly by local environmental factors. Therapist will often employ aromatherapy and will play calming music or use white noise to stimulate relaxation. Setting the right mood is highly important to getting the most out of a massage session. It is important that the patient feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible so the therapist can be most effective.

It is helpful to obtain some type of a medical history from massage patients before starting a massage. Clients are usually there for a reason and the therapist needs to know what they are trying to accomplish. A relaxation massage is much different from a deep tissue massage, which can actually be on the painful side. It is also good for the massage therapist to be aware of any medical conditions or old injuries that could be aggravated by the massage.

Clients usually remove their clothes during a massage and are covered with a specially folded sheet, which will cover any private areas. Many people are uncomfortable with this part of the massage and if you are one of them be sure to mention this to the therapist. They will be happy to use a work around to make you feel comfortable.

Therapist will usually use some type of a massage oil to assist with the massage and reduce friction. This is usually scented oil and can serve as the aromatherapy agent.

Massage therapy is a great way to recover from an injury or simply relax. If you have never had a massage you are missing out and if you are considering getting into massage therapy as a career there are many different options for you to consider.

• One of the best massage systems out there is the air massage system. It has a much wider array of features and functions and can preform many more massages than some of the fixed roller systems. The air massage system works through an array of inflatable bags, the bags can be any size and shape and can preform many functions. The bags also eliminate the pinch points and hard pressure points than are common with other systems.
• Most massage chairs will come equipped with a kneading massage function. This is effective because of the repetitive motion which will lead to relaxation and a deep massage. Kneading is usually accomplished with a roller system because of the large surface area that is required to knead effectively.
• If you are after the most relaxation possible from your massage chair I suggest that you invest the extra money in a system that is capable of preforming a foot massage. Many massage chairs stop at the calf or even the bottom, but to really get a full massage you need to include other parts of the body and the feet are critical. Look for a system that incorporates air massage into the foot massage, which will allow the massage to target the many small bones and muscles of the foot.
• Many massage chairs have a tilt function that allows you to lean back to almost a full horizontal level. Many massage chairs are not built for taller individuals so a foot support could be an important addition if you are 6’ or over.
• Last but not least I would suggest finding a massage chair that is capable of at least 5 automatic programs. Now when I say automatic programs I do not mean simply turning the thing on and letting it knead your back until it is raw, but programs that will cycle through a number of different massages and target different areas. Some programs will be aggressive, others will be relaxing, what you are looking for is variety. Massage chairs are no small investment and this is one of the most important functions that will allow you to see a good return on your investment.

Massage chairs are not created equally, so keep your eye out for quality. These are 5 features that I find important when selecting a massage chair but don’t forget that the most important aspect of buying a massage chair is trying out a number of different options and spending enough time in each massage chair to get a good feel for how effective they are.

Many people first think of muscle soreness and physical therapy when they think of massage but the vast majority of massage clients are actually people looking for relief form pain and anxiety. Soothing the muscles and the nerves can have help achieve a greater sense of well being. So, it is no surprise that massage is being used to tread many more things than just muscle stiffness. It is often used to overcome depression, chronic pain, or even low self esteem. Massage is often associated with a feeling of release for many recipients. This could be the release of negative feelings or the release of pain. Whatever the case, it works.

Massage is not usually considered a medical treatment, it is often still viewed as an alternative therapy. It is often used tomassage.com/to-massage-or-not-to-massage” target=”_self”> treat sports related injuries or to promote optimal performance during sporting activities. It is not uncommon to see numerous massage therapist on the sidelines of professional sporting events. These sporadic regular massages often help athletes avoid overuse injuries.

On the medical side of things massage has also been found to effectively treat people with auto immune disorders such as HIV. The increased circulation and the frequent release of dopamine have a positive effect on people with these diseases. The addition of the positive mental aspects of massage can also help people in these situations who often find themselves at rock bottom.

Any parent has most likely experienced the positive response of their infant to human touch and massage. The benefits of massage have also been shown to carry over into the birthing process, making labor easier and less painful. Child birth is possibly the most stressful occurrence that some women will endure, any help they can get will be good help. After birth babies that receive frequent massage have been shown to gain weight faster and have fewer medical complications during their first year of life.

Blood pressure is also greatly effected by massage. Certain personality types have been proven to have higher blood pressure and stress relieving activities such as massage can significantly reduce the level of stress and blood pressure that these patients experience.

Massage can be used to treat nearly any symptom and can be used where other medications fail. There are virtually no side effects to massage and while it may at first glance seem expensive it is often much more reasonably priced than other therapies. If you have never received a massage I urge you to schedule on immediately and experience the benefits for yourself.

So, I tread lightly when I address massage as a pain control because I know that it is not a cure and I do not want to offer false hope where none exist. Massage can offer relief and a possible break. It can offer an alternative and something different, it can give a sense of well being and it can possibly improve your quality of life.

Massage controls pain in a couple of ways.

Gate Control Theory

In the same way that positive and negative thoughts cannot occupy the same space in the brain at the same time pain and pleasure cannot exist in the brain at the same time. If you send enough positive sensory information to the brain the receptors will be overwhelmed and for at least a brief little while you will feel the pleasure of the massage. This may take some mental focus on your part but like many other things in life that do not seem like choices this too is a choice.

Natural Pain Killers

Massage causes the body to release its natural pain killers, that studies have found to be as powerful as morphine. Dopamine is responsible for the pleasure of orgasms and the runners high, both of which are incredibly addictive. Releasing dopamine will have an immediate and lasting effect on pain.

Associated Symptoms

Your pain may not be directly caused by muscle stiffness, muscle soreness, decreased flexibility, or bad circulation, but these can all be causes of pain and improving any of them will assist with pain management. Massage offers relief in all of these areas and while it may not directly effect the cause of the pain it can reduce other symptoms associated with the pain.

Touch Therapy

It is tough to get a massage without any touch and touch has been shown to be a powerful healing tool by itself. Passing healing life touch from one individual to another is an excellent often overlooked side effect of massage.

Deep Relaxation

With persistent pain it can be very difficult to ever achieve relaxation. All of the previously mentioned side effects of massage work together to put you into a highly relaxed state. Find a massage studio that will allow you to relax in their facilities for as long as you want after your massage to gain the full benefit of the relaxation and healing calm.

• It might increase blood flow to the affected areas. There has been research supporting both sides of this theory. With the numerous different types of massage out there I tend to believe that some methods are more effective than others at increasing blood flow, thus increasing nutrients to the muscles and decreasing recovery time.
• It helps you relax. The jury is not out on this, just go get a massage and see how you feel.
• Related to relaxation, massage decreases anxiety and elevates mood. This is due to the simple methodical pleasure that can be derived from a massage or a release of dopamine the can be caused by a more vigorous massage.
• The previous mood related factors work together to reduce blood pressure and cortisol levels. If you are not familiar with cortisol it is a hormone that is released when you are stressed which causes you hold on to fat. Though not scientifically proven you could make the argument that massage has the capacity to help you loose weight.
• Massage reduces muscle stiffness. This is another subjective opinion based theory resounding support on the yes side. A massage essentially tenderizes the muscles by twisting, contorting, stretching, and applying localized pressure. This will increase flexibility.
• Reduction in muscle soreness. This is accomplished by a couple of factors. One, the increased flexibility often leads a person to feel less sore because they are not as physically restrained. And two, it is thought that massage helps break up and remove the lactic acid responsible for muscle soreness.
• Decreased swelling, this is also related to the previous point but I thought that it deserved its own paragraph. Swelling may make you look buff, but it is a symptom of the numerous micro traumas that you inflict on your body when you put it through a difficult workout. Decreasing this swelling means that you are recovering faster.
• All of these factors combined lead to a healthier body that is more resistant to injury and sickness and will recover faster from any activity. Massage basically optimizes your body by putting it in its best possible condition. It is essentially a tune up for your body.

Cons of massage

• There are a couple of cons of massage one of which is the main reason that it is not more widely used than it is. The cost is the main draw back of massage and puts it into a prohibitive category for many people. Starting at about $30 for a half hour it is a luxury many people can’t afford.
• The last con is the time that it takes. Like anything else if you do one thing it means that you can’t do something else. If that something is watch TV great, if it is taking time from your family not so great. Find the balance and don’t let this be the negative aspect it can be.