What is Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is fast-growing profession, for one thing. Two decades ago, massage therapy was virtually unknown. But in the interim, public interest has grown. Many insurance companies have started to recognize the benefits of skilled practitioners. Consumer interest coupled with insurance company funding has led to more practicing therapists and more accreditation programs.

Massage therapy is a hands-on manipulation of the soft tissues and joints of the body. The soft tissues include muscle, skin, tendons and associated fascia, ligaments and joint capsules.

Massage has many diverse physiological effects, which are primarily due to the therapist's hands moving over the body. The different movements can physically stretch muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia, encourage the circulation through the tissue, inhibit muscular spasms and be either sedating or stimulating to the nervous system.

The psychological benefits of massage  shouldn't be ignored, either. Stress-related illnesses are bad for people and bad for the economy. Our emotional state impacts on our physical health, so an improvement in the former, through massage, can impact the latter.

For novices to massage therapy there is little to fear. The overwhelming majority of massage techniques, in addition to aspiring to have a therapeutic effect, feel good. Discuss your comfort level with your therapist. A good practitioner will adjust the session to maximize your comfort.

As with all forms of private healthcare, "buyer beware" is a good maxim. Before booking a session, ask about the qualifications of the masseuse, and don't be awed by long words or lofty-sounding credentials. And don't be embarrassed - it's your money and your health. If she or he claims to have graduated from Buddy Ho-Ho College of Massage, look the college up on the Internet and see if it looks legitimate. Massage therapy is an umbrella term that encompasses a lot of dedicated professionals, but also more than a few swindlers.

It's worth taking the time to find a qualified practitioner. The therapeutic use of recognized massage techniques by a registered massage therapist affects all the systems of the body - in particular, the muscular, circulatory, lymphatic (immune) and nervous systems.


Massage is one of the oldest healing arts: Chinese records dating back 3,000 years document its use; the ancient Hindus, Persians and Egyptians applied forms of massage for many ailments; and Hippocrates wrote papers recommending the use of rubbing and friction for joint and circulatory problems. Today, the benefits of massage are varied and far-reaching. As an accepted part of many physical rehabilitation programs, massage therapy has also proven beneficial for many chronic conditions, including low back pain, arthritis, bursitis, fatigue, high blood pressure, diabetes, immunity suppression, infertility, smoking cessation, depression, and more. And, as many millions will attest, massage also helps relieve the stress and tension of everyday living that can lead to disease and illness.

So What Is It Exactly?
Massage, bodywork and somatic therapies are defined as the application of various techniques to the muscular structure and soft tissues of the human body. Specifically:

Massage: The application of soft-tissue manipulation techniques to the body, generally intended to reduce stress and fatigue while improving circulation. The many variations of massage account for several different techniques.

Bodywork: Various forms of touch therapies that may use manipulation, movement, and/or repatterning to affect structural changes to the body.

Somatic: Meaning "of the body." Many times this term is used to denote a body/mind or whole-body approach as distinguished from a physiology-only or environmental perspective.

There are more than 250 variations of massage, bodywork, and somatic therapies and many practitioners utilize multiple techniques. The application of these techniques may include, but is not limited to, stroking, kneading, tapping, compression, vibration, rocking, friction, and pressure to the muscular structure or soft tissues of the human body. This may also include non-forceful passive or active movement and/or application of techniques intended to affect the energetic systems of the body. The use of oils, lotions, and powders may also be included to reduce friction on the skin.

Please note: Massage, bodywork and somatic therapies specifically exclude diagnosis, prescription, manipulation or adjustments of the human skeletal structure, or any other service, procedure or therapy which requires a license to practice orthopedics, physical therapy, podiatry, chiropractic, osteopathy, psychotherapy, acupuncture, or any other profession or branch of medicine.

No wonder so many people find massage therapy so helpful in so many ways!