Massage therapy is the application of structured pressure, tension, motion, or vibration to the soft tissues of the body to achieve a beneficial response. We stimulate or treat injuries arising from muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments, joints and lymphatic vessels.
When our sports or massage therapists perform a massage, the focus is on either superficial or deep tissues using specially trained techniques. Deep tissue massages are designed to focus on working on specific joints or muscle groups. Using this understanding, we also perform lower body lymphatic drainage on patients with chronic oedema.
The benefits of massage therapy are both physical and psychological.
- Reduces the heart rate, creating relaxation and aiding sleep
- Lowers blood pressure.
- Increases blood circulation and lymphatic flow
- Helps relieve muscle tension and stiffness
- Improves the range of motion in many joint areas of the body
- Promotes faster healing rates in strained muscles and sprained ligaments
- Reduces pain and swelling in muscles and around joints.
- Reduces the formation of excessive scar tissue
- Relieves and reduces mental stress
- Generates a feeling of well-being, especially when feeling mentally low
- Reduces the levels of anxiety and frustration some people may have every day.
Warning!
There are certain medical conditions that our staff at Therapyroom1 does not treat with massage, as this may cause the patient’s health to worsen. These are:
- Certain forms of cancer.
- Skin conditions such as burns, cuts, cold sores, bruises, sores, herpes, open cuts, and swollen areas, patients should not have a massage in these areas. (Cover up any open cuts or scratches on hands with a plaster or dressing before attending.)
- Severe back pain. (This could mean the patient has a problem which might be made worse with massage, so patients must ask their doctor first or make an appointment with our Back Clinic.
- People with high fevers or chills. (It may be a sign of a serious illness.)
- Massaging the feet, lower legs, and abdomen during the first three months of pregnancy.
- Severe osteoporosis. (People with a mild stage of osteoporosis could benefit from massage if permitted by their doctor.)
- Cardiovascular conditions, namely heart disease, thrombosis, phlebitis, oedema and varicose veins.
References for this article are based on:
1. Bango-Sanchez, V, Field, T, Cullen, C, Diego, M, Hernandez-Reif, M, Sprinz, P, Beebe, K, Kissell, B. The Touch Research Institute. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2001, Vol. 5, pp. 271-274.
2. Leivadi, S, Hernandez-Reif, M, Field, T, O’Rourke, M, D’Arienzo, S, Lewis, D, Del Pino, N, Schanberg, S, & Kuhn, C. Massage therapy and relaxation effects on university dance students. Journal of Dance Medicine & Science, 1999, Vol. 3, pp. 108-112.
3. Manipulative and Body-Based Practices: An Overview, National Institute of Health. Website viewed: October 2005. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/backgrounds/manipulative.htm