Theory behind Massage Therapy

 Massage is the practice of soft tissue manipulation on living animals. This therapy can be used on humans, dogs, horses and cats. The goal is to provide physical, functional and some psychological improvement in the function of the animal. The word massage comes from the French language which means \”friction of kneading\”. In the Arabic language it means \”to touch, feel or handle\” and in the Hebrew, it refers to “anoint with oil\”.Historically, the use of massage has been found in the writings of many ancient civilizations. References about massage can be found in Chinese medicine books or even in bible. Some illnesses were treated with massage during the early Roman Empire while in more modern times; the practice of massage has absorbed many Western ideas into its traditional framework. It became more popular in the United States in the middle 1800s. Over time the popularity of the practice of massage has ebbed and waned. It began to grow in influence once again during the 1970s, most notably among athletes who use the technique to improve performance.Unfortunately the term \”massage therapy\” has come to mean several things in the Western world. Illegal sexual services are sometimes advertised as \”massage\” and so the distinction is often made between massage and massage therapy. Likewise, massage therapy is also gaining popularity in the United Kingdom through the practice of many private practitioners who work from their own homes or commercial venues.The practice is about applying correct pressure to certain points in the body to bring relief to damage stressed areas as well as treat injuries and diseases. Schools offering massage therapy claim that there are approximately 200 variants of massage techniques with new ones being developed and modified almost yearly. Each of these techniques is done for a certain objective and a specific focus. Similarly, each of the different massage techniques is based on a specific theory too.In September 2004 a new study was published that used a meta-analysis of peer-reviewed scientific journals using massage therapy in the adult population. In this study, patients received a single application of massage therapy during which anxiety state, blood pressure, heart rate, negative mood and immediate assessment of pain and cortisol levels were examined. There were also multi-application studies where trait, anxiety, depression and delayed assessment of pain were evaluated.According to the researchers the average participant who received a single massage therapy session experienced a reduction in anxiety that was greater than 64% of the participants who received a different treatment. It was also effective in reducing blood pressure and heart rate. Surprisingly however, cortisol levels were not significantly reduced which negates conclusions found in previous studies. It must be noted that one of the theories of massage is that it stimulates a response from the parasympathetic nervous system by a reduced cortisol level. However, in the mentioned study, there was no significant decrease in cortisol levels.Hence, the researchers theorized that massage therapy may provide a benefit in a way that parallels a model of psychotherapy. But, although the similarities between massage therapy and psychotherapy are significant, researchers do not believe that benefits derived from massage are \”all in your head\”.

In another study published by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine published May 2004, researchers found that massage was the ninth most popular form of alternative medicine with an estimated 5% of the adult population using therapy at least once in the past 12 months. The use of massage continues to rise and so has the interest in research to offer clinical proof for claims of massage therapists.

The study concluded that massage therapy had a wide range of physical and psychological benefits

RESOURCES

NYU Langone Medical Center: Massage Therapy

Monumental Massage: Effectiveness of Massage Therapy

Journal of Massage Science: How Massage Therapy Heals the Body

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities: Massage Therapy

University of Minnesota: How Does Massage Therapy Work

Minnesota State: Massage Therapy Program

Keck Hospital of USC: Massage Therapy

National HOlistic Institute: Massage Therapy Schools

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Massage Therapy