The power of touch
What is massage therapy?
What to expect
How much does a massage cost?
How do I find a massage therapist?
How do I know if my therapist is qualified?
Glossary of terms
The power of touch
Nearly from the beginning of time, medical practitioners throughout the world have relied on their hands. The human touch, often 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 providers provide less and less "hands-on" care.
Massage therapy has developed as a way to return to the age-old tradition of the use of human touch as part of healing. Therapeutic massage is used by many for relief from injuries and certain chronic and acute conditions and also to 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, used to manipulate the soft body tissues in order to return them to a normal, healthier state. It includes holding, causing movement and/or applying pressure to the body. Therapeutic massages can be given practically anywhere, ranging 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.
Consumers visit massage therapists 114 million times each year. 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 baby boomers, a growing population of aging and tired people who were frequently overworked and stressed out.
Although massage therapy may not be the cure to all that ails you, it can help alleviate a variety of maladies from stress to pain. Some physicians are prescribing therapeutic massage for a wide range of medical conditions, including arthritis, headache, myofascial pain, and sports injuries. "It would be difficult to find anything that has the wide range of benefits that massage does," says E. Houston LeBrun, past president of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). "It's a wonderful way to help your body deal with daily stresses."
According to the AMTA, massage therapy improves functioning of the circulatory, lymphatic, muscular, skeletal and nervous systems and may improve the rate at which the body recovers from injury and illness. It comes in many 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
If you have any diagnosed medical conditions, always check with your physician before undergoing massage therapy.
What to expect
Massage therapy sessions tend to last either 30 minutes 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, 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. But in general, fees range from about $45 to $60 an hour. Some health plans may provide coverage for massage therapy when your health care provider prescribes it. Check with your benefit manager to find out if you are covered.
How do I find a massage therapist?
You can ask a friend who gets massage therapy, a health professional well versed in complementary and alternative health care, or contact the AMTA or the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (1-800-296-0664) for names of qualified massage therapists in your area.
How do I know my therapist is qualified?
Ask these questions:
- Where did you receive your massage therapy training?
- Are you a graduate of a training program accredited or approved by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation?
- If the commission does not accredit you, are you certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork?
- Do you have advanced training in any specific massage techniques?
- Are you currently licensed as a massage therapist in this state? Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia require licensing of massage therapists.
- Are you a member of the AMTA?
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. They 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, a system of long strokes, 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 is massage therapy focusing on muscle systems relevant to a particular sport.
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External Sources
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National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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American Massage Therapy Association
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The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
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This article was reviewed June 2006, by John Acquaviva, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Health and Human Performance, Roanoke College, Salem, VA.
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