Massage therapy can simply be defined as the systematic control of the body’s muscles and delicate tissues for wellbeing related purposes, for example, alleviation of pain and tension.

There are so many systems that are incorporated, but each of the adopted systems depends mostly on many factors such as the type of massage, modality, practiced; the most well-known strategy, known as Swedish massage, as to do with the combination of some basic movement methods some of which are listed below:

• Effleurage (long, gliding strokes)
• Petrissage (kneading)
• Tapotement (tapping with the sides of the hands)
• Friction (vigorous rubbing)
• Shaking (gentle jostling)

One would ask, what is massage therapy used for?

Based on the definition given above, massage therapy is used in the management of many health conditions or to improve wellness. It includes controlling the delicate tissues of the body. Massage has been put into practice in a number of cultures, both Eastern and Western, all through humankind’s history, and it was considered to be one of the foremost tools used by people for alleviating pain.

What are the different types of massage?

The term “massage therapy” includes numerous methods. The most widely recognized type of massage therapy in Western nations is called Swedish or classical massage; it serves as the core of most massage training programs. Some other styles of massage therapy are sports massage, clinical massage to accomplish specific goals such as releasing muscle spasms, and massage traditions which are copied from Eastern cultures; some good examples are Shiatsu and Tuina.

What are the dangers of massage therapy?

In most cases, the risk of harmful effects from massage therapy appears to be low. In any case, there have been uncommon reports of serious indications, for example, blood clots, nerve injury, or bone fracture. Any reported cases have to do with vigorous types of massage, such as deep tissue massage or some patients who are at increased risk of injury, for example, old individuals.

What are the necessary requirements to become a massage therapist?

In some of the states that regulate massage therapy, before you become a therapist, you need to get a license or certification before you can be allowed to practice. When it comes to state regulations, it is required of you to graduate from an approved program and pass the necessary exam.

Several massage therapists get certification from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. In order to achieve this, it is vital that they meet up with specific educational requirements, undergo a background check, and pass an examination.

Do massages help pain?

When it comes to massage therapy, studies have been done on it for years, and it has been shown that it can relieve several types of pain, such as the low-back pain, neck and shoulder pain, pain from osteoarthritis of the knee, and headaches. Below is the highlight of what the study says;

• Low-Back Pain
• Neck and Shoulder Pain
• Osteoarthritis of the Knee
• Headaches

A lot of studies have been done mostly the one credited to NCCIH; the outcome of the research shows various aspects of massage therapy, including the ones listed below:

Regardless of whether massage therapy can be useful in avoiding and treating repetitive motion disorders

On the off chance that massage therapy can be useful as a segment of a nondrug way to deal with pain management in veterans

In the event that massage therapy can target sensory pathways that can help individuals with lower leg sprains avoid chronic ankle instability (which can influence upwards of 40 percent of individuals who experience this kind of injury).