Different Types of Massage Therapy and Their Benefits
Massage therapies offer many benefits to help relieve stress and tension. Not only that, but they can also increase blood circulation, reduce pain and joint stiffness, enhance flexibility, as well as remove toxins from the body.
Recently, many complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices have gained momentum, such as massage. These therapies are frequently combined with traditional medical treatments for maximum effect.
Sports Massage
Sports Massage is a form of therapy used by athletes and active individuals to improve performance, reduce pain and prevent injuries. It helps ease muscle stiffness and tightness, increase flexibility, and strengthen muscles.
Massage can be used as a pre-event treatment to increase blood flow to muscles and reduce inflammation, or after intense training sessions to decrease stiffness. It also breaks down scar tissue and enhances the range of motion.
Reflexology
Reflexology is a gentle yet powerful treatment that can aid your body in healing itself. It increases circulation throughout the body, reduces stress and pain, and relaxes all of the major muscle groups at once.
At a reflexology session, the reflexologist massages pressure points on your feet and hands, depending on which areas are causing you discomfort. These pressure points correspond to different organs and muscles throughout your body.
Trigger Point Massage
Trigger points, commonly referred to as muscle knots, are tender areas in muscles that form when muscles are stressed or overused. These tight spots can cause chronic discomfort but can be released with trigger point massage therapy.
Therapists performing trigger point massage aim to alleviate this pain at its source by applying cycles of pressure and release. They may also utilize deep breathing exercises to increase circulation and open up constricted muscle areas.
Medical Massage
Medical massage is a therapeutic massage prescribed by a physician and performed according to their instructions.
Medical massage speeds up the healing process by increasing blood flow to the injured area and decreasing inflammation. This promotes faster healing times, allowing your body to heal more efficiently.
Massage can be extremely beneficial for injuries such as whiplash, neck pain, sprains, and muscle strains. Furthermore, it reduces edema by improving circulation.
Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a non-invasive treatment for pain and stress in the brain and spinal cord. It works by creating an environment around your central nervous system that promotes healing and self-correction within your body's natural healing capacity.
Research has proven to be beneficial for a range of health conditions, such as concussions, back pain, fibromyalgia, and autism spectrum disorders. Furthermore, it may help release emotional tension which could be contributing to your physical discomfort.
Myofascial Release
Myofascial release is a type of bodywork that loosens myofascial restrictions, or tight areas of fascia which may cause discomfort.
Myofascial release therapy may provide relief from symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and migraine disorders. It also helps reduce stress.
Ashi Massage
This type of massage is a barefoot massage and it’s known as very deep and luxurious. It’s common for athletes to use this service, as it provides very deep pressure.
There are many different types of massage therapy that can provide a variety of benefits. These are just some of the more common types of massage offered.