Massage Therapy Q & A
What is massage therapy?
Massage therapy is a type of therapy that involves the manual manipulation of a patient’s soft tissues, including the patient’s muscles, ligaments, tendons, and connective tissue. The goal of massage therapy is to loosen any tight muscles, relieve the patient’s pain, reduce stress, and improve the patient’s overall physical condition. Massage therapy may also be used to support other types of treatment, such as rehabilitation or physical therapy.
What types of massage therapy are available?
A variety of different types of massage therapy may be beneficial to patients.
Some of the most popular massage therapies include:
- Trigger point massage: Focal points of hypersensitivity giving rise to pain
- Sports massage: Used to prepare athletes for activity and help prevent injury
- Deep tissue massage: Focused on the deepest muscle tissue, fascia and tendons
- Swedish massage: Light massage with a primary goal of relaxing the entire body
Each of these methods offers different advantages and disadvantages for patients. The physician can determine what type of massage is best for each individual based on the individual’s condition.
What are the benefits of massage therapy?
Massage therapy offers many benefits to patients, including reduced stress and tension, less pain in the muscles, and improved mood. These benefits are especially helpful to patients who deal with chronic pain, as well as those who are trying to recover from an injury. Massage therapy can also be beneficial to patients with other issues, including insomnia, anxiety, and frequent headaches.
When is massage therapy necessary?
We recommend massage therapy for many different reasons. Not only does massage therapy offer certain benefits on its own, but it can also improve the effectiveness of other types of treatment, such as chiropractic care. In fact, nearly any patient can benefit from adding massage therapy to their treatment regimen.
Is massage therapy risky?
Massage therapy is safe for most patients. However, in rare cases, this type of therapy may not be appropriate. Patients with known fractures, bleeding disorders, burns, or certain types of wounds may not be good candidates for massage therapy.