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Swedish
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Swedish massage uses five styles of long,
flowing strokes to massage. The five basic
strokes are effleurage (light touch),
petrissage (kneading), tapotement (rhythmic
tapping), friction (compression), and
vibration. Swedish massage has shown to be
helpful in reducing pain, joint stiffness, and
improving function in patients with
osteoarthritis of the knee over a period of
eight weeks. The development of Swedish
massage is credited to Per Henrik Ling
though the Dutch practitioner Johan Georg
Mezger adopted the French names to denote
the basic strokes.
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Deep tissue massage is a type of massage
therapy that focuses on realigning deeper
layers of muscles and connective tissue. It is
especially helpful for chronically tense and
contracted areas such as stiff necks, low
back tightness, and sore shoulders. Some of
the same strokes are used as classic
massage therapy, but the movement is
slower and the pressure is deeper and
concentrated on areas of tension and pain.
Deep tissue massage works by physically
breaking down these adhesions to relieve
pain and restore normal movement.
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Hot Stone
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Hot stone massage is a variation on classic
massage therapy. Heated smooth, flat stones
are placed on key points on the body. The
massage therapist may also hold the stones
and use them to massage certain areas of the
body. The use of hot stones for healing dates
back to ancient times, but it wasn't until
Arizona massage therapist Mary Nelson
introduced her hot stone massage technique,
called LaStone Therapy, that the use of hot
stones for massage caught on. It is well
suited for people who have muscle tension
but prefer a lighter massage.
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Prenatal massage has been found to reduce
stress, decrease swelling in the arms and
legs, and relieve aches and pains in muscles
and joints. It's a popular complementary
therapy during pregnancy for back pain,
when choices for pain relief, such as
medication, are often limited. Not only can
massage be physically beneficial, but the
human touch can be comforting and provide
emotional support during pregnancy.
Massage therapy has been found to reduce
anxiety and depression. I do not recommend
massage in the first trimester.
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Chair Massage
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Most office-related physical symptoms can be
attributed to loss of circulation. Tight muscles
caused by stress and sitting behind a desk all
day can impede blood and lymph flow. The
result is mental fogginess, decreased energy
and susceptibility to repetitive stress
injuries, like carpal tunnel syndrome. Chair
massage counters the circulatory problems
inherent with office work—and provide a
appreciated break for employees. Sitting in a
massage chair opens up the back muscles,
relieves strain on the neck and provides a
gentle respite for eyes usually glued to a
computer monitor.
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