Massage Therapist
Much research has shown that about 90 percent of all diseases and illnesses in our body is linked with stress. Massage is a huge stress reliever, and Massage therapists are experts in this department.
Massage therapy affects the body as a whole unit, not just working in one part of the body. The entire body is interconnected; if you affect the physical body, it will also affect your mental and emotional state. Many types of massages, like Craniosacral, Shiatsu, lymphatic Drainage, etc. are used by Massage Therapists to relieve you of pain and discomfort.
Massage Therapy Benefits
Many of us consider Massage Therapy as a necessity, and others consider it as a luxury, but the benefits of massage therapy are immense.
Some of the benefits of Massage Therapy are:
- It provides comfort and is relaxing
- Decreases stress hormones and increase Endorphin (happy hormones, which makes you feel good).
- Improve Sleep
- Reduces Anxiety and Depression
- Reduce a sense of isolation
- Increases Blood Circulation
- Increases muscle mobility
- Decreases chronic muscle tension and pain
- Releases toxins
- Increases Flexibility
- Relieves pain regarding back pain, migraine, arthritis, fibromyalgia
- Reduce dependency on medication
Types of Massage
There are over 300types of bodywork. There are many types of massage, but the most common types are Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, and Trigger Point Massage.
Swedish Massage
This massage is for parasympathetic relaxation, working on the soft tissue of the muscle tendons, ligaments, and the connective tissue between the skin and the muscles. It is a gentler non-aggressive approach method, also called the traditional massage process, which mainly focuses on relaxation. This type of massage energizes the body stimulating the blood circulation, making you feel like blood moving towards the heart. Due to an increase in blood circulation, there is an increase in oxygen in the blood and decreases muscle toxins. In this method, theMassage Therapist gently uses gliding strokes. In Swedish Massage, oil-based lubricants are usually preferred by Massage therapist.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep Tissue Massage is done to people who have sports injuries and other kinds of injuries. This type is an aggressive approach method. Deep Tissue Massage feels different than Swedish Massage. Here the pressure is applied progressively by the massage therapist. There is a different sensation, feels more of like a drag or friction other than gliding when applying deeper pressure. It works in the deeper layer of the muscle tissue, tendons. In Deep Tissue Massage, cream or lotion are usually preferred by Massage therapist.
Trigger Point Massage
In this type of massage, the Massage therapist uses their thumb to locate and get into the place with tenderness or trigger points within the muscle. By massaging those points helps to bring back proper blood circulation. Sometimes Trigger Point refers to the pain elsewhere in the body example; if someone has a knee injury, the trigger point may be in its back. That Tigger Point needs to be released by massage that will relieve the patient’s knee problem.
Difference between Massage Therapy and Physiotherapy
Massage therapy is the holistic approach of treatment affecting the whole body, including the mind and emotional factors.
Whereas Physiotherapy focuses on a particular part of the body, and the treatment procedure may include massage and mostly exercises.
The main motto of a Massage Therapist is to create an emotional bond with the patient, making them feel comfortable and allowing them to be at any comfortable position. Even while applying pressure, Massage Therapists look at the comfort of the patient.