Massage works by increasing oxygen and blood flow to tense muscles and by undoing the knots caused by tension. This is particularly beneficial for relieving tight muscles caused by office and keyboard posture. Muscle aches from overuse and trauma often respond well to massage. Studies have shown that massage led to significant alleviations of acute and chronic pain and increased muscle flexibility and tone.
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TYPES OF MASSAGE |
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Swedish Massage is based on the Western concept of Physiology and Anatomy. It is the most widely-used massage technique which include five methods of strokes. |
| 1. Effluerage: gliding, long sweeping stroke to spread lubricant and warm up the body before deeper work, most often interspersed with other strokes. Helps venous and lymphatic flow. Can be superficial and deep. |
| 2. Petrissage: kneading, rolling, squeezing, and lifting. Used primarily on muscle belly. Helps increase circulation and removes toxins. Muscles are moved away from bones in order to milk out the body fluids |
| 3. Friction: compression technique which moves deep tissue under the skin. It is applied with palm of the hand, thumbs, and fingertips. Friction breaks up adhesion, produces local hyperemia and hyperthermia, increases metabolism and enhances healing process. |
| 4. Tapotement: percussion, hacking, beating, clapping, and cupping. In short duration, it stimulates the muscles; prolonged duration, it sedates. |
| 5. Vibration: trembling, shaking. It is used to soothe nervous system. If applied in prolong duration, it causes numbness. If applied on abdomen, stimulates internal organs. |
| Reflexology - is based on the idea that the stimulation of the joints on the body's surface can have healing affect on other areas or organs of the body. It is basically used on hands and feet. |
| Deep Tissue Massage - it is a vigorous and aggressive approach directed specifically to individual muscle fibers. The purpose is to "unstick" the fibers of a muscle while releasing deeply-held patterns. |
