What is Massage Therapy?
Massage therapy and its many virtues are well known and recognized, not only for relaxing but also for its therapeutic benefits.The popularity of massage therapy is actually increasing due to the important role it plays in reducing pain, muscle tension and stress. Moreover, we now know it has a positive impact on sleep quality and improves the overall quality of life. When received on a regular basis, it also contributes to energizing the body and strengthening the immune system.
Although some treatments use a combination of techniques, massage therapy treatments can be divided in two categories.
Relaxation Massage
A relaxation massage promotes blood flow and brings the body to a state of relaxation. Therapists use various techniques; Swedish massage is best known and one of the most appreciated. Far from being limited in their techniques, therapists now use a host of techniques, each of which fulfilling specific needs.Therapeutic Treatments
Over the course of the last decades, therapeutic massage techniques have evolved greatly and improved the therapeutic potential of this discipline. Therapists nowadays master techniques which play a key role in reducing muscle tension and stress. Other techniques such as kinesitherapy or orthotherapy are used by a number of therapists to treat various conditions such as tendonitis, bursitis and capsulitis, postural imbalances and minor intervertebral disruptions.Prevention
Receiving massage treatments on a regular basis contributes to a good quality of life by improving well-being. Since these treatments aim to improve flexibility and allow the body to evolve under optimal conditions, thus preventing premature aging, massage treatments help prevent the onset of certain conditions. These preventive effects are also very important for sports massage techniques, for example during the physical preparation of competitive athletes.Specialized Treatments Tailored to Different Types of Clients
Other than sports massage which was discussed earlier, massage therapy has seen many types of treatments developed in order to suit specific types of clients. Among these we find massage for expectant mothers, where the main goal is reducing pain caused by physical and hormonal changes experienced during pregnancy. There is also chair massage therapy, which can be executed almost everywhere, doesn’t require massage oil and can be done in roughly twenty minutes. This is actually why many businesses offer this service to their employees within their workplace; it helps reduce employee stress levels and contributes to their overall well-being.Information obtained from the Professional Association of Specialized Massage Therapists in Quebec
