Massage Methods

Massage Methods 

Massage certainly plays a vital role in an integrative system of health care, both as a preventative and a restorative. Besides its role as a safe and effective physical therapy in its own right, massage also plays an increasingly popular role when used in combination with other complementary therapies discussed following. 

For example chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists have determined massage to be a valuable therapeutic adjunct to their own modality and often use massage prior to that modality to loosen and soften tissues in preparation for manipulation or as a part of their overall therapeutic approach. 

Swedish Massage 

It is a general style of massage that is performed with the intention to relax and soothe. It encompasses basic Swedish Massage techniques that work over large groups of muscles. These techniques include various types of effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement and vibration. 

It generally benefits health and well-being by the reflex effects of passive exercise such as that produced by encouragement of the blood circulation, oxygenation of tissues and elimination of waste as well as sedation of the nerves. 

It is particularly useful for those suffering the effects of a sedentary lifestyle in today's modern society and can reduce stress and muscular tension. 

Relaxation massage incorporates the use of Swedish Massage techniques such as effleurage, petrissage and friction, which are more soothing techniques rather than the more stimulating tapotement techniques. The goal of a relaxation massage is to encourage the action of the parasympathetic nervous system (often called the peacemaker). This is achieved by sedating or soothing the sympathetic nervous system - the flight or fight system which is activated when an individual is stressed. 

Remedial Massage 

This is the scientific application of massage and associated body therapy techniques such as trigger point therapy, acupressure and muscle energy techniques with the objective of treating a mechanical condition, discomfort or disease.  

Such conditions may include: 

Joint problems, frozen shoulder, sciatica, wry neck, arthritis, poor circulation, muscle spasms, fibrositis and lumbago, headaches, back and neck pain and hip complaints. 

In treating the client, the therapist can use a range of techniques which could include: 

?Deep transverse friction (DTF)

When massaging in a deep, transverse direction, the muscle fibres are separated and fibrotic changes that occur as a result of healing processes following injury as the body sets down scar tissue, are broken up.

?Broad cross-fibre stroking (BCFS)

Using a compressive technique, the intention is to stretch transversely across the muscle fibres with the intention of separating them.

?Trigger point therapy

Trigger points are hardened, palpable, hypersensitive bands of tissue found within the muscle. When active, they can be a source of referred pain, paresthesia and restriction of movement. When latent, they may be a source of muscular tension and cause some restriction of movement but not refer pain or sensation to other areas. Releasing a trigger point can help restore normal muscular function.

?Acupressure

This is a method of localised thumb, finger or elbow pressure on the same points of the meridians as used in acupuncture. By applying pressure on specific points relating to the condition, energy may be either stimulated or sedated. 

?Muscle energy techniques (MET)

Muscle energy techniques are a form of therapy that utilises the energy of the muscle in an isometric or isotonic fashion bringing about a lengthening or toning of the muscle. 

?Vodder lymphatic drainage therapy

It was devised by Dr Emil Vodder in France in the 1930's, specifically to work on the lymphatic system of the body. It differs greatly to traditional massage in that it uses an extremely light touch that moves lymph fluid from the tissues towards the major lymph vessels, nodes and back into the general blood circulation.

It has proven effective in the treatment of many conditions such as tonsillitis, sinusitis, nervousness, hypertension and much more. It is used pre and post operatively in many European hospitals by trained therapists for conditions such as mastectomy, where it helps to prevent the pooling of lymph fluid in the arms following removal of lymph nodes and damage of lymph vessels.

By combining any of these techniques, the therapist has truly created a holistic form of body therapy for the client and the results speak for themselves.