Category Archives: Massage

Massage, Massage Blogs

Differences Between Relaxation Massage, Medical Massage & Sports Massage

As more and more people consider getting massage therapy, there is also more confusion as to what kind of massage to get. For most people, their idea of a massage is what they see on television or the movies. Some will also get information from friends and family who have had a massage. What usually comes to mind is either the traditional Western or Swedish massage with long, gliding strokes or the sports warm up massage, sometimes called a rub-down, where the trainer administers short, choppy strokes to get the athlete ready for an event.

While these are not wrong perceptions, there are so many more options when it comes to therapeutic bodywork. There are more than 100 variations and techniques. Most fall into just a few main categories such as Western massage and Asian or Eastern massage. And some, even though considered in the massage profession, are more like physical therapy.

Relaxation Massage

Relaxation massage can fall under either Western or Eastern styles or techniques. Often there is a blending of the two. Most of the massage techniques used at spas, resorts, cruise ships and practitioners, either working alone or for larger companies, use relaxation type. Whether the practitioner is using long, gliding strokes, kneading strokes or even stretches and pressure points, the goal is for reduction of stress and an increase in relaxation. These sessions can be anywhere from a half hour to two hours in length, with the most popular being about an hour.

Medical Massage

Medical massage may use some of the techniques in both Eastern and Western massage, but the length of the session and the focus are different. With medical massage, the intent is usually rehabilitative or restorative. A person may have a prescription from a doctor for massage to help speed recovery from an injury such as a sprain or strain. Additional knowledge and training in the area of pathology is usually needed, as the massage therapist needs to know which conditions are contraindicated, which are safe and what techniques to use for various specific conditions or ailments. These sessions may be as short as 15 minutes and, in some cases, are covered by insurance.

Sports Massage

Sports massage can overlap with medical massage. The massage therapist is often dealing with anyone from professional athletes to weekend warriors. Techniques include those needed for warm-up, cool-down and rehabilitation after injury. Most of the techniques used come from the Western massage branch of bodywork and may include some methods similar to those used in physical therapy. These sessions also may be as short as 15 minutes.

Most likely, the appointment for your first massage will be for a basic relaxation massage, unless you request something else. Don’t be nervous about asking the massage therapist questions, or letting him or her know if you have any particular aches, pains or illnesses. Massage therapists are trained to offer you the techniques that will give you a massage tailored to your needs.

Massage, Massage Blogs

Can I Get a Massage if I Have Cancer?

Ten or twenty years ago if that question was asked, you most likely were advised to avoid any massage therapy if you had cancer. Many doctors were uninformed when it came to various touch therapies and avoided recommending what many manual therapists knew – that massage therapy could be helpful for cancer patients.

Up until recently, there were few studies that could prove the benefits of massage during cancer treatment. In the mid-2000s however, that changed and research done by the Touch Research Institute out of Miami and those sponsored by the National Institutes of Health have shown massage therapy can be helpful for those with cancer.

While some precautions must be taken and touch therapies should be avoided during certain therapeutic events (such as radiation or chemotherapy), massage has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, improve immune function, alleviate depression and help with self-image.

The important thing for you, as a cancer patient, is to openly and honestly communicate with your massage therapist. Inform him or her of your diagnosis, of any treatment you are receiving and when it was administered. Also tell them if you are experiencing any pain, itching, burning or other discomfort – whether or not it is related to your cancer or treatment. Don’t be shy or apprehensive about letting your massage therapist know if the massage itself is causing any pain or discomfort. If your massage therapist is not an active part of your oncology team, make sure they are exchanging information with your primary oncologist or care provider.

The opinion of massage therapy and how it can benefit cancer patients has changed dramatically over the past 10-15 years and now, according to the Society for Oncology Massage, there are at least 95 hospitals in 28 states and the District of Columbia incorporating oncology massage into their contemporary treatments as well as offering training. This list includes such well-known facilities as the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, several locations within the University of California Medical Centers, Johns Hopkins Breast Cancer Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

When considering a massage therapist during treatment for cancer or when in remission, look for someone who has taken continuing education courses in oncology massage or hospital based massage, or who has an affiliation with a hospital using massage therapy as an added option to traditional treatment.

Massage, Massage Blogs

A Simple Massage Could Keep You From Getting Sick

Massages are a great way to release tension and stress and promote relaxation. But a new study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine has revealed for the first time that massages also provide a measurable, therapeutic benefit to the immune system as well.

Dr. Mark Rapaport and his team of researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif., evaluated 53 people, 29 of which received 45-minute Swedish massages–one of the most common forms of massage used in the U.S.–and 24 who received gentler, light touch massages. Researchers took blood samples at intervals before and after the massages and found that those who received even just one Swedish massage experienced significant, positive changes in blood composition.

“This research indicates that massage doesn’t only feel good, it also may be good for you,” explained Dr. Rapaport in a press release. “People often seek out massage as part of a healthy lifestyle but there hasn’t been much physiological proof of the body’s heightened immune response following massage until now.”

Besides experiencing a significant increase in lymphocytes, the white cells in the body that help fight and prevent disease, the Swedish massage group experienced lower cortisol levels as well. Cortisol is the hormone released by the adrenal gland in response to stress.

The Swedish massage group also experienced a decrease in arginine vasopressin, a hormone linked with aggressive behavior.

“European-style massage is often used to treat back pain, sleep disorders, and other stress-related disorders,” explain Bradley J. Willcox, D. Craig Willcox and Makoto Suzuki in their book The Okinawa Program: How the World’s Longest-Lived People Achieve Everlasting Health.