Massage therapy dates back several thousand years and was used as a form of medicine in many ancient cultures, including in China, Egypt, and Japan. During the Renaissance, massage became a popular commodity, and it wasn't until recently that massage became a viable form of therapy.
Today, massage therapy is used to treat a range of ailments, from physical injuries to fatigue or tension from stress. With ongoing research and the diverse applications of massage therapy, professionals and patients alike have found this to be a highly beneficial and rewarding field of health care.
Massage is the broad term for rubbing and manipulating skin, muscles, and the body's other soft tissues. Massage therapy is the application of massage in a therapeutic setting with the goal of improving and conditioning the body tissues to promote health and well-being. A massage therapist is a certified professional who applies techniques that are tailored to each of their unique clients.
For instance, the type of massage a therapist uses can range from gentle rubbing to deeper pressure, depending on the needs of the client. Massage therapy can also encompass a broad range of different types of massage, and each specific type has a variety of health benefits:. Massage therapy is used for a variety of reasons and to treat a range of conditions 1. Commonly, massage therapy focuses on relieving and managing issues like lower back pain, muscle tension, muscle knots, injuries to muscles and tissues, and stress.
There are many more applications for massage, however, including in the treatment of depression and anxiety, physical health conditions, chronic disease, terminal illnesses, and more. Some specific conditions that therapists may use massage to treat include:. Massage therapists may evaluate clients with these conditions to develop a safe treatment plan that promotes healing and aids clients in overall mobility and pain improvement.
