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For many centuries, medical practitioners worldwide have relied on their hands. The human touch, referred to in the Bible as "the laying on of hands," has been acknowledged by most cultures throughout time as a powerful healing tool. But today, with the increase in diagnostic and therapeutic devices and machinery, health care providers provide less and less "hands-on" care.
Massage therapy has developed as a way to return to the age-old tradition of using human touch as part of healing. Therapeutic massage is used by many for relief from injuries and certain chronic and acute conditions. It also may help with the stresses of daily life. Some research studies show that massage therapy reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure, increases blood circulation and lymph flow, relaxes muscles, improves range of motion and increases endorphins, which affect pain perception. Although massage therapy does not increase muscle strength, it can stimulate weak, inactive muscles and partially compensate for the lack of exercise and inactivity resulting from illness or injury. Practitioners believe it can also hasten and lead to a more complete recovery from exercise or injury.
What is massage therapy?
Massage therapy consists of the use of hands or sometimes forearms, elbows and feet to manipulate soft body tissues to return the body to a normal, healthier state. It includes holding, causing movement and/or applying pressure to the body. Therapeutic massages can be given practically anywhere. They range from a 15-minute massage of the shoulders and back for someone sitting in a chair to an hour-long, head-to-toe massage on a padded massage table.
A national survey on Americans' use of CAM, published in 2004, found that 5 percent of the 31,000 participants had used massage therapy in the preceding 12 months, and 9.3 percent had ever used it. In fact, many companies are inviting massage therapists into the office as an employee perk and a means of reducing stress and absenteeism. The massage boom can be attributed partly to the growing population of aging and tired baby boomers who are frequently overworked and stressed out.
Although massage therapy may not be the cure for everything, it can help alleviate a variety of maladies from stress to pain. Some doctors prescribe therapeutic massage for a wide range of medical conditions, including allergies, arthritis, headache, myofascial pain, sinusitis and sports injuries.
Scientists do not fully understand what changes occur in the body during massage, whether they influence health, and, if so, how. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is sponsoring studies to answer these questions and identify the purposes for which massage may be most helpful.
Massage therapy comes in about 80 different forms, including:
- Swedish, a gentle, relaxing massage
- Pressure point therapy for certain conditions or injuries
- Sports massage which focuses on muscle groups relevant to a particular sport
Therapeutic massage is sometimes not recommended for people with:
- Phlebitis (inflammation of the veins)
- Infectious diseases
- Certain forms of cancer
- Some skin conditions
- Some cardiac problems
- Pregnancy
If you have any diagnosed medical conditions, always check with your doctor before undergoing massage therapy.
What to expect
Massage therapy sessions tend to last either 30 or 60 minutes. Often, the therapist will begin by asking you about your current physical condition, stress levels and whether or not any part of your body is particularly sensitive. You will be asked to remove as much clothing as you are comfortable with and then lie on a cushioned table. For the purposes of modesty as well as warmth, a sheet is usually draped over your body and the massage therapists will fold back the sheet when working on specific body parts. The room is generally darkened. Sometimes soft music is played and sometimes not, depending on what the massage therapist believes to be most relaxing for you.
The massage therapist often applies a lotion or oil to the body to reduce friction, and then generally applies pressure to different sections of the body. Let the therapist know if you experience any discomfort or if the massage is too vigorous for you.
How much does a massage cost?
Fees vary in different parts of the country and may be higher for highly experienced massage therapists. In general, fees range from about $45 to $60 an hour. Some health plans may provide coverage for massage therapy, for instance, when you are recovering from a sports injury.
How do I find a massage therapist?
Ask your regular health care provider for a referral.
How do I know my therapist is qualified?
Currently, 33 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws regulating massage therapy - for example, requiring that massage therapists graduate from an approved school or training program and pass the national certification exam in their field in order to practice.
Professional organizations of massage therapists have not agreed upon the standards for recognizing that a massage therapist is properly and adequately trained.
Licenses or certifications for massage therapists include:
LMT Licensed Massage Therapist
LMP Licensed Massage Practitioner
CMT Certified Massage Therapist
NCTMB Has met the credentialing requirements (including passing an exam) of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, for practicing therapeutic massage and bodywork
NCTM Has met the credentialing requirements (including passing an exam) of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, for practicing therapeutic massage
Glossary of terms
Deep tissue is massage that focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissue to release tension in the body with the use of slow strokes and deep finger pressure. The pressure either follows or goes across the grain of muscles, tendons and fascia.
Shiatsu and acupressure are oriental-based systems of finger-pressure that treat special points along acupuncture "meridians" (the invisible channels of energy flow in the body). Massage therapists believe that energy blocked along these meridians can cause physical discomfort, so the aim is to release the blockage and re-balance the energy flow. These types of massage therapy can be used for the full body or for specific areas of the body.
Reflexology, also called zone therapy, is massage-based around a system of points in the hands and feet thought to correspond, or "reflex," to all areas of the body.
Swedish massage is a system of long strokes that include kneading and friction techniques on the more superficial layers of the muscles, combined with active and passive movements of the joints.
Trigger point therapy, sometimes called myotherapy or neuromuscular therapy, involves concentrated finger pressure against painful, irritated areas in specific muscles to relieve spasm and pain.
Sports massage focuses on muscle systems relevant to a particular sport.
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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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