Massage Therapy - It does a Body Good!

Massage therapy has been used successfully in healthcare for thousands of years. Hippocrates spoke of its healthful benefits, and the Greeks offered massage for free to all people. Many current cultures including Asians, Germans, Swedes, and Russians still use massage in their medical model. Even Canada covers massage therapy under their National Health Plan.

Unfortunately, in the United States, we still carry the stigma of prostitution to some degree. Many states have adopted legislation to regulate massage rather than leaving it up to local municipalities. Some favor this approach, and some feel the more regulation, the less "art" will be involved. For, massage therapy is indeed an art. No two therapists will practice the same modality exactly the same. There are principles in massage therapy, but few rules.

There are many types of massage. Swedish massage, as it is practiced in this country, is generally used for relaxation. Students of this form are taught to ignore sore areas and work lightly for relaxation. The benefits of this include improved sleep, reduced stress, body awareness, and some reduction in pain that is usually temporary. This is the type of massage most commonly available at spas and on cruise ships. The strokes are long and smooth, oil is used liberally, and there is some kneading of muscle groups.

Other types of massage focus on the disharmony within energy systems in the body. Acupressure massage and Shiatsu are two Asian techniques that follow the principles of Chinese medicine. They do not use oil or lotion, but do involve holding or stimulation of acupuncture points with the fingers, and can be very therapeutic for pain or energetic imbalances that cause disease. There is some light shaking, stretching, pressure, and squeezing all done to break up stagnant areas of energy that the Chinese believe cause the pain. However, for deep, chronic conditions, these techniques are best combined with acupuncture treatments and possibly herbal therapies.

This is they type of massage I practice and have found to be very effective. Asian bodywork therapies may benefit asthma, musculo-skeletal conditions, allergies, migraine headaches, repetitive motion disorders and injuries, stress, TMJ, menstrual disorders, menopausal issues, depression and anxiety, and some gastrointestinal disorders.

A question I'm asked often is "Should massage hurt?" The answer to that is "It depends." It should never be intolerable, and you must tell your therapist at once if you experience this level of pain. Normal muscles should not be painful to moderate touch. Press an area on your body with your thumb and notice this. Other abnormal sensations include ticklishness and itching. Both of these sensations are related to pain and tension. Areas that are painful or ticklish are tense or injured. Muscles are injured by chronic tension and become scarred. Massaging muscles that have been injured or tight for a long time also releases the chemicals produced by lack of oxygen to that area. They can also experience some trauma in the process. This can cause you to feel "sore" after a deep massage. Usually, this will go away in a day or so and you will feel a sense of deep relief. It is my experience that as long as the person continues self-care (stretching, breathing properly, drinking water plentifully, and eating properly) and regular bodywork, this soreness does not recur. However, if your pain level is so acute that even light touch is not tolerable, you should seek medical or chiropractic care.

Another question I hear frequently is "Does my insurance cover massage therapy?" The answer is "Usually not." However, dollar-for-dollar, you may find massage is worth the money. You may qualify for a tax benefit if you have a doctor's prescription for massage and can claim it under "uncovered medical expenses". Check with your tax professional. Of course, if you use our sickcare system less, you'll save money and time off work due to illness. Think of massage as an investment in good health through reduced stress. Stress reduction should be our number one goal in our fast paced lives.

Stress is the number one killer of Americans. We need to take a more active roll in our well care so we don't get sick. Massage is just one way to do this. High levels of stress have been linked to heart attacks, cancer, stroke, obesity, and diabetes. Research out of the University of Miami Medical College has shown massage produces profound relaxation as evidenced by brain wave changes. Reduced levels of serum cortisol, a marker of prolonged stress, have been measured in several studies underlining the physical changes that occur with massage therapy. Massage decreases the perception of pain increased by stress.

Pain and massage therapy have been well studied. Fibromyalgia sufferers were put into two groups, pitting massage against progressive muscle relaxation to see which group had better symptom relief. The massage group experienced less depression, improved sleep, decreased pain, fatigue, and stiffness, decreased tender points, and a decrease in the blood concentration of Substance P. Substance P is a neurotransmitter of pain, and people with fibromyalgia have elevated levels of this chemical in their blood. The types of massage used included Swedish massage and acupressure, performed weekly for 5 weeks. This is a very important study as it shows that massage is not just an indulgence. It is a very valid way to take care of your body and mind.
After only six sessions of massage therapy followed by therapeutic stretching, adults with lower back pain in this massage study reported improved function, less intense pain, and a decrease in the quality of pain. One month after the treatment ended, 63% reported no pain had returned, while the other groups had very little lasting results. As I have said before, disease is never present on one level nor will it ever be cured on one level. The addition of stretching and exercise, along with proper diet and supplementation, can benefit everyone. Imagery can also help heal or redirect our expectations so our body understands what we want it to do.