Massage, Massage

In distinction the ancient Greek word for massage was anatripsis , and the Latin was frictio.

Massage can be applied with the hands, fingers, elbows, forearm, and feet. There are over eighty different recognized massage modalities.

A typical commercial massage table has an easily cleaned, heavily padded surface, and a horseshoe-shaped head support that allows the client to breathe easily while lying face down and can be stationary or portable. An orthopedic pillow or bolster can be used to correct body positioning.

Due to these two factors, chair massage is often performed in settings such as corporate offices, outdoor festivals, shopping malls, and other public locations.

Ayurvedic massage, also known as Abhyanga is usually performed by one or two therapists using a heated blend of herbal oils based on the ayurvedic system of humors.

The techniques include skin rolling, kneading, stroking, etc. The massage therapist applies aromatheraphy oil throughout the massage. A patient's blood, oxygen and energy flow is said to increase as a result of the treatment. Balinese hot stones are an option.

Dara Torres, 41-year old olympian, received barefoot compression massage on a daily basis in her training program. Aug. 15: Spoiler alerts! From ESPN bureau producer Justine Gubar This modality typically uses the heel, sesamoid, arch and/or whole plantar surface of foot, and offers large compression, tension and shear forces with less pressure than elbow or thumb, and is ideal for large muscles, such as in thigh, or for long-duration upper trapezius compressions. Fix Pain: Bodywork Protocols for Myofascial Pain SyndromesAuthor: John Harris, Fred Kenyon ISBN 9780966584318 - ISBN 0966584317 Publication Date: 2002 . The unclothed cousins of this modality are Keralite, Yumeiho, Barefoot Lomi Lomi, Fijian Barefoot, Chavutti Thirummal.

This type of massage focuses on the muscles located below the surface of the top muscles. Deep tissue massage is often recommended for individuals who experience consistent pain, are involved in heavy physical activity, such as athletes, and patients who have sustained physical injury.

The massage techniques relax stressed muscles. Hilot also includes joint manipulations to help relax stressed muscles.

Swedish massage has shown to be helpful in reducing pain, joint stiffness, and improving function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee over a period of eight weeks.

The technique combines massage with yoga-like positions during the course of the massage; the northern style emphasizes stretching while the southern style emphasizes acupressure.

Manual pressure, vibration, injection, or other treatment is applied to these points to relieve myofascial pain. Trigger points were first discovered and mapped by Janet G. Travell (president Kennedy's physician) and David Simons. Trigger points have been photomicrographed and measured electrically David G Simons, Siegfried Mense and IJ Russell, Muscle Pain: Understanding Its Nature, Diagnosis and Treatment Chapter: Myofascial Pain Caused by Trigger Points p.205288 (1st hardcover edition), 2000, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins , and in 2007 a paper was presented showing images of Trigger Points using MRI Chen et al., p.2 2007, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation . These points relate to dysfunction in the myoneural junction, also called neuromuscular junction (NMJ), in muscle, and therefore this modality is different from reflexology, acupressure and pressure point massage.

This type of massage was developed by Elijio Panti of Belize and brought to the United States by Rosita Arvigo. Even though Panti was a respected and well known user of Mayan massage, he did not develop this modality. "Mayan Massage" techniques have been used since before the Spanish conquest and is still practiced today by many Sobadores or Hueseros.

Other names for massage and related practices include hands-on work, body/somatic therapy, and somatic movement education. Body-mind integration techniques stress self-awareness and movement over physical manipulations by a practitioner. Therapies related to movement awareness/education are closer to Dance and movement therapies. Massage can also have connections with the New Age movement and alternative medicine as well as being used by mainstream medical practitioners.

Acupressure or pressure point massage may be more beneficial than classic Swedish massage in relieving back pain.

Source: Wikipedia > Massage