Massage

From ArticleWorld

Massage is a type of therapy where the soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints are manipulated in order to relieve stress, tension and pain, improve circulation and heal injuries.

There are over 150 types of massage, some of which are well known and widely practiced such as chair massage designed to ease muscle tension which is commonly found in hotels and airports and deep muscle therapy designed to treat conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, poor circulation and whiplash amongst others.

Fascia is the connective tissue that lies beneath the skin and over the muscles, bones and organs. It is the target of a massage therapy called Myofascial Release. Other types target the posture and another, the scalp. Some types use hot or cold stones or entail walking on the subjects back; some can last 15 minutes and others up to two hours.

Chinese therapies

There are various Chinese techniques such as Tui Na, which promotes pushing, stretching and kneading the muscles and Zhi Ya which pinches and presses the body at the same points used in acupressure. Another well known Chinese massage therapy is that of reflexology, or foot massage. It is based on the premise that the nerve endings of all the internal organs end in the sole of the foot. Upon applying pressure to the sole, a reflexologist is able to identify problem areas within the body based on the area the recipient of the massage feels any pain. By breaking down the accumulated crystals and increasing circulation through foot massage, the problem should be solved.