What Research About Massages Can Teach You
Massage Therapy Treatments
Massage therapy can also be referred to as manual manipulation of the soft body tissues enhancing people’s health. Some of these soft tissues are the tendons, ligaments, connective tissues, and muscles. Reasons, why people look for massage therapy, is to reduce stress, relax muscles, headaches, sports injuries, digestive reasons among other reasons. Massage therapy may not be advisable for people with fractures, healing wounds, bleeding disorders among other medical conditions. Types of massage therapy are two main types which are the relaxation massage therapy which is mainly practiced in spas, resorts and other centers. Second, there is the rehabilitative massage therapy which is mainly practiced in clinics and hospitals. Relaxation massage therapy is also known as Swedish massage. Rehabilitative massage is also clinical massage or medical massage.
Unlike massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy uses firm pressure and slow strokes for reaching deepest muscle layers, tendons and also the connective tissues which surround the muscles, joints and bones known as fascia. It is mainly used for aches and pains which prove to be chronic. It can also be used to break down muscle adhesions which could disrupt circulation and bring pain and inflammation. At the beginning light pressure is applied on the muscles to warm them up then some specific techniques are then applied. These are the friction where some pressure is applied to the muscles, stripping where deep pressure is applied along the length of the muscles using thumbs, elbows, and arms.
Deep tissue therapy has many advantages since it mainly concentrates on specific problems such as immobility, recovery from injuries, postural problems, low back pains, and also injury rehabilitation. Deep tissue massage can alleviate stress arising from work or other tasks. People with blood clot-related conditions should avoid deep tissue massage therapy as it poses health risks for them. A side effect of deep tissue massage therapy is bruising.
Reflexology is the application of pressure to specific points on the feet and hands with specific techniques. Reflexology relieves tension in the body by manipulating specific areas on the feet or hands. They divide the body into ten vertical zones which are equal, five on each side. Pressure applied on the feet may transmit signals to the nervous system which may stimulate the nervous system to release chemicals which can reduce stress or pain. Reflexology is not used as to cure health disorders but its main use is to complement other types of treatment for conditions such as cancer treatment, headaches, diabetes, kidney illnesses and also asthma.
Merits of reflexology include eliminating toxins, cleaning up the urinary tract conditions, speeding up recovery, stimulating nerve functions and also boosting circulation.