The History, Treatments, and Benefits of Massage Therapy

Massage therapy dates back thousands of years. Ancient writings from Japan, China, India, Egypt, Greece and Rome make references to massage therapy. Hippocrates even defined medicine as “the art of rubbing.” During the Renaissance, massage therapy became popular in Europe, but did not reach the United States until the 1850s, when it was introduced by two American physicians who had studied in Sweden. Massages decreased in popularity during the age of scientific and technological advancement, but interest was revived in the 1970s. According to the National Health Interview Survey, an estimated 18 million adults received massage therapy in 2006.
Defining Massage Therapy

Massage therapy simply means utilizing a variety of techniques to alleviate stress and chronic pain in a person’s body. By using their hands, elbows and forearms, massage therapists press, rub and knead the muscles and soft tissues of the body with moderate to deep pressure. Many variations of massage therapy exist, including Swedish massage, which is the most widespread treatment used in the United States. Swedish massage is generally very soothing, with long strokes and deep circular movements. Trigger point massage focuses on myofascial trigger points; “knots” of muscle that are painful and tender when pressed. A deep tissue massage involves intense pressure and slow strokes to target the connective tissues and deeper muscle layers. Other common variations include aromatherapy, Thai massage, reflexology, acupressure, and sports massage.
Training for Massage Therapists

According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, there are over 1, 500 massage schools in the United States. These schools offer intensive training in physiology, anatomy, neuromuscular therapy, orthopedic assessment and a variety of body treatments. Teachers use hands-on training so students understand how to properly assess the needs of each patient and formulate appropriate treatment plans. In addition, students learn about business practices and ethics.

Those pursuing massage therapy as their career can learn basic massage techniques or pick a specialized field, such as sports massage therapy. The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) certifies therapists who pass a national examination. Many states that license massage therapists require them to have 500 hours of training at an accredited institution in addition to passing the NCBTM exam.
Benefits of Massage Therapy

Massage therapy patients enjoy many health benefits, including a decrease of chronic pain, fewer headaches, and less sleep disturbances. Massages are a natural stress reliever; lowering the body’s heart rate and blood pressure, and increasing positive endorphins. A consistent program of massage therapy helps muscles to relax and relieves painful pressure points, resulting in better range of motion of the body’s joints, and improved posture. Massages promote good circulation and allow blood to flow more freely through congested knots of muscle. The pushing and pulling motion of massage flushes out harmful lactic acid, and improves the flow of lymph fluid, which carries waste away from muscles and internal organs.