Massage therapy is a purposeful manipulation of the soft-tissue. The aim is to produce physiological effects on the musculoskeletal, nervous and vascular systems with a range of styles and techniques. It is used globally with many cultures developing massage to promote health and wellness.
There are different types of massage therapy from all cultures, eastern traditions to western and they all have different term/names, and descriptions. So, what do they all mean and how does this impact your treatment?
Massage therapy in the western world uses many terms such as: relaxation, deep tissue, sports massage, and therapeutic/ remedial massage. Here is a little guide to what each type of massage therapy means.
Relaxation massage is typically a smooth, gentle approach to relieving muscular tension using long sweeping and rhythmic strokes to help you relax. The goal for this type of treatment is relaxation in your body and mind and it’s a chance for you to switch off for the length of your appointment. It is not intended to treat sporting injuries or other chronic discomfort. Many people will seek a relaxation massage after a long week at work or to help improve their mental health and sleeping habits.
Sports massage looks to focus on specific areas of the body that are in need of rehabilitation. Usually used to recover from injuries or intensive training, reduce pain and prevent further damage - as well as to warm up, cool down or relax before or after exercise. A range of techniques can be used during this type of massage depending on the client’s needs.
It is very easy to get confused when you hear about deep tissue massage and what that might mean for your treatment. Lots of PAIN? Sore muscles, scary! No, this is not what it means at all. Deep tissue is a very deceptive term to use for massage. We are like onions, layers of tissue on top of one another that all connect and are responsible for certain functions. Therapists will look to treat deeper muscles, which will mean more pressure is needed, however it should only be intermittent.
Therapeutic and remedial massage are similar, with very specific treatments. This type of treatment starts with the pre-treatment discussion, where specific questions are asked. These questions give the therapist a picture on structures and tissues that may need attention in relation to the presenting problem. From there, direct and tactful strokes/techniques are used to create the physiological change needed to help relieve the problem. There are many techniques that can be used to create this change and each therapist will give a different approach, but the goal is the same.
It is important to note that you should ALWAYS tell your therapist if the pressure is too hard. When you tense, the muscle becomes a concrete block, preventing any change. While some discomfort is possible, there is a limit and that is entirely up to you as the client.
