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Massage therapy

Massage therapy can have many benefits. It is great for helping to relieve stress. It is a valuable tool in helping to recover from personal injuries. It is also a very underrated tool for improving sports performance and recovery time. Having massage therapy even once a month usually has life-changing ramifications for most people.

Massage therapy comes in as many shapes and sizes as there are people. For those who just want to relax, there is traditional Swedish Massage. For athletes, there is American Sports Massage. And for those fighting chronic personal injuries or those sustained in an auto accident, there is deep tissue massage.

Swedish massage is a slow, relaxing massage that uses mostly long, flowing strokes that help relax the central nervous system and the superficial aspects of the muscles and fascia. It is great for those just trying to unwind and for those who need general help with circulation and lymphatic movement. It is the entry-level priced massage at many establishments.

American Sports Massage is designed to help rid the body of lactic acid and cellular waste caused by repetitive exertion of muscles. It is usually characterized by a faster tempo than the Swedish variety, but is similar to Swedish in that it involves flowing “effleurage” strokes that help push waste into the kidneys and liver so that it can be excreted.

Deep Tissue massage is for helping repair injuries. It can be used as a medical treatment when one is injured, or it can be used as maintenance for athletes and others who demand more out of their bodies than the average person.

There are many other variations of massage. Many therapists offer an “integrated massage” that incorporates all three of these. For more information, contact a massage therapist in your area.

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