Benefits of Massage & Bodywork

    The first benefit of Massage and Bodywork is being able to relax and re-energize!  Massage and bodywork can help release chronic muscular tension and pain, improve circulation, increase joint flexibility, reduce mental & physical fatigue, relieve stress, promote faster healing of injured muscular tissue, improve posture and reduce blood pressure.

    Massage and bodywork are also known to promote better sleep, improve concentration, reduce anxiety, and create an overall sense of well being.  Massage also improves skin tone, increases oxygen in the body, stimulates the release of endorphins, speeds the removal of metabolic waste and speeds recovery from illness.  Massage is one of the oldest known therapies.  It is also very popular in preventative healthcare, pre-surgery and post-surgery.

The Practice of Massage Therapy

    Massage therapists work in a variety of settings, including private offices, hospitals, nursing homes, studios, and sport and fitness facilities. Some also travel to patients' homes or workplaces. They usually try to provide a calm, soothing environment.
    Therapists usually ask new clients about symptoms, medical history, and desired results. They may also perform an evaluation through touch, to locate painful or tense areas and determine how much pressure to apply.
    Typically, the client lies on a table, either in loose-fitting clothing or undressed (covered with a sheet, except for the area being massaged). The therapist may use oil or lotion to reduce friction on the skin. Sometimes, people receive massage therapy while sitting in a chair. A massage session may be fairly brief, but may also last an hour or even longer.
    Massage therapy appears to have few serious risks—if it is performed by a properly trained therapist and if appropriate cautions are followed. The number of serious injuries reported is very small. Side effects of massage therapy may include temporary pain or discomfort, bruising, swelling, and a sensitivity or allergy to massage oils.

    Cautions about massage therapy include the following:
• Vigorous massage should be avoided by people with bleeding disorders or low blood platelet counts, and by people taking blood-thinning medications such as warfarin.
• Massage should not be done in any area of the body with blood clots, fractures, open or healing wounds, skin infections, or weakened bones (such as from osteoporosis or cancer), or where there has been a recent surgery.
• Although massage therapy appears to be generally safe for cancer patients, they should consult their oncologist before having a massage that involves deep or intense pressure. Any direct pressure over a tumor usually is discouraged. Cancer patients should discuss any concerns about massage therapy with their oncologist.
• Pregnant women should consult their health care provider before using massage therapy.

If You Are Thinking About Using Massage Therapy
• Do not use massage therapy to replace your regular medical care or as a reason to postpone seeing a health care provider about a medical problem.
• If you have a medical condition and are unsure whether massage therapy would be appropriate for you, discuss your concerns with your health care provider. Your health care provider may also be able to help you select a massage therapist. You might also look for published research articles on massage therapy for your condition.
• Before deciding to begin massage therapy, ask about the therapist's training, experience, and credentials. Also ask about the number of treatments that might be needed, the cost, and insurance coverage.
• If a massage therapist suggests using other CAM practices (for example, herbs or other supplements, or a special diet), discuss it first with your regular health care provider.
• Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will ensure coordinated and safe care.
 

Maternity Massage

*Massage in the first trimester is not recommended, unless under Doctor's order, due to the release of toxins.  This is a safety measure.

Benefits of Pregnancy Massage include:

• Relaxation and reduce stress. 

• May provide some relief from muscle cramps, and spasms in the body.

• Increase in blood and lymph circulation, which may reduce swelling.

• Reduces some stress on weight-bearing joints.

• Possibly improves outcome of labor and eases labor pain.

• Enhances the pliability of skin and underlying tissues.

• Provides support for the new mother with physical and emotional strains of mothering.

What is Prenatal Massage?

    A Prenatal Massage is a special massage tailored specifically to the needs of a pregnant woman and their changing bodies.  Our therapists are trained in prenatal massage to adjust their techniques for each individual Mother.  Prenatal massage helps to relax tense muscles, ease sore spots, improve circulation and mobility, and makes the mother feel rejuvenated in a special way.

How do you lie on the table?

    We have a special table with soft, secure, wide, hollowed out areas to accommodate your growing baby and your enlarged breasts.  It will support your body as you lie face down.  We also have a traditional massage table available.  Your therapist will use pillows to support your body and your baby as you are lying on your side at different times during the massage.  We would like you to ask your doctor which choice is the best for you and your baby.

How can prenatal massage help me?

    Prenatal massage therapy focuses on the special needs of the mother-to-be.  It also provides emotional support, nurturing touches and relaxation by relieving stress on joints and muscles.  During pregnancy, the weight has shifted drastically in a woman's body.  Weight has been added to the belly, which puts a large strain on the back.  Pregnancy can also be a very stressful time emotionally.  Massage therapy, both before and after birth, can help relieve these strains in an extremely comfortable way.

The History of Massage

    Massage therapy is one of the oldest health care practices known to history. References to massage are found in Chinese medical texts more than 4,000 years old. Massage has been advocated in Western health care practices at least since the time of Hippocrates, the "Father of Medicine." In the fourth century B.C. Hippocrates wrote, "The physician must be acquainted with many things and assuredly with rubbing" (the ancient Greek term for massage was rubbing). 

    The roots of modern, scientific massage therapy go back to Per Henrik Ling (1776–1839), a Swede, who developed an integrated system consisting of massage and active and passive exercises. Ling established the Royal Central Gymnastic Institute in Sweden in 1813 to teach his methods. 

    Modern, scientific massage therapy was introduced in the United States in the 1850s by two New York physicians, brothers George and Charles Taylor, who had studied in Sweden. The first clinics for massage therapy in the United States were opened by two Swedish physicians after the Civil War period. Doctor Baron Nils Posse operated the Posse Institute in Boston and Doctor Hartwig Nissen opened the Swedish Health Institute near the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

    Although there were periods when massage fell out of favor, in the 1960s it made a comeback in a different way as a tool for relaxation, communication, and alternative healing. Today, massage is one of the most popular healing modalities. It is used by conventional, as well as alternative, medical communities and is now covered by some health insurance plans.

    Massage therapy is the scientific manipulation of the soft tissues of the body for the purpose of normalizing those tissues and consists of a group of manual techniques that include applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, and/or causing movement of or to the body. While massage therapy is applied primarily with the hands, sometimes the forearms or elbows are used. These techniques affect the muscular, skeletal, circulatory, lymphatic, nervous, and other systems of the body. The basic philosophy of massage therapy embraces the concept of vis Medicatrix naturae, which is aiding the ability of the body to heal itself, and is aimed at achieving or increasing health and well-being. 

    Touch is the fundamental medium of massage therapy. While massage can be described in terms of the type of techniques performed, touch is not used solely in a mechanistic way in massage therapy. One could look at a diagram or photo of a massage technique that depicts where to place one's hands and what direction the stroke should go, but this would not convey everything that is important for giving a good massage. Massage also has an artistic component.

    Because massage usually involves applying touch with some degree of pressure and movement, the massage therapist must use touch with sensitivity in order to determine the optimal amount of pressure to use for each person. For example, using too much pressure may cause the body to tense up, while using too little may not have enough effect. Touch used with sensitivity also allows the massage therapist to receive useful information via his or her hands about the client's body, such as locating areas of muscle tension and other soft tissue problems. Because touch is also a form of communication, sensitive touch can convey a sense of caring—an essential element in the therapeutic relationship—to the person receiving massage.

    In practice, many massage therapists use more than one technique or method in their work and sometimes combine several. Effective massage therapists ascertain each person's needs and then use the techniques that will meet those needs best.  

    American Massage Therapist  Association  defines Massage as, "a manual soft tissue manipulation that includes holding, causing movement, and/or applying pressure to the body."

To see a Glossary on many other techniques, click here:

Massage Glossary

Training, Licensing, and Certification
    There are approximately 1,500 massage therapy schools and training programs in the United States. In addition to hands-on practice of massage techniques, students generally learn about the body and how it works, business practices, and ethics. Massage training programs generally are approved by a state board. Some may also be accredited by an independent agency, such as the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA).
    As of 2007, 38 states and the District of Columbia had laws regulating massage therapy. In some states, regulation is by town ordinance.
    The http://www.camtc.org/ and National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) certifies practitioners who pass a national examination. Increasingly, states that license massage therapists require them to have a minimum of 500 hours of training at an accredited institution, pass the NCBTMB exam, meet specific continuing education requirements, and carry malpractice insurance.  

 
Licenses and Certifications
Some common licenses or certifications for massage therapists include:
LMT
Licensed Massage Therapist
LMP
Licensed Massage Practitioner
CMT
Certified Massage Therapist
NCTMB
Has met the credentialing requirements (including passing an exam) of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, for practicing therapeutic massage and bodywork.
NCTM
Has met the credentialing requirements (including passing an exam) of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, for practicing therapeutic massage.

Note: The material provided on this site is for educational purposes only and any recommendations are not intended to replace the advice of your physician.  The information and service provided is not used to prescribe, recommend, diagnose, or treat a health problem or disease. It is important that you do not reduce, change, or discontinue any medication or treatment without consulting your physician first.  It is not a substitute for medical care.