Swedish Massage
The basic goal of massage therapy is to help the body heal itself and to increase health and well-being. Touch is the main source of massage therapy. Practitioners learn specific techniques for massage and use their sense of touch to determine the right amount of pressure to apply to each person in order to locate areas of tension and other soft-tissue problems. Touch also conveys a sense of caring, a significant aspect in the healing process. Swedish massage is the most commonly used type of massage. It was developed by a Swedish physiologist, Henri Peter Ling, in 1812. It uses five main movements:
- long, gliding strokes
- kneading of individual muscles
- friction
- hacking or tapping
- vibration
Physical Benefits
Mental Benefits
Swedish Massage & the Healing Process
Massage therapy aids in the healing process from injury or over-use. Many sports injuries, car accidents, repetitive motion, and tension from everyday stress can cause problems that will cause pain, headaches, decrease range of motion, lower resistance to illnesses and compromise one's lifestyle. It is an excellent form of preventive health care. How Swedish Massage works When muscles are overworked, waste products such as lactic acid can accumulate in the muscle, causing soreness, stiffness, and even muscle spasm. Massage improves circulation, increases blood flow, bringing fresh oxygen to muscle tissues. This can assist the elimination of waste Products, speed healing after injury, and enhance recovery from disease. |