Massage Therapy - Brief History of Massage Benefits
Massage is one of the most ancient forms of healing. The first writings on massage showed up around 2000 BC. The ancient Greeks and Romans used massage to maintain health and promote healing. As early as the 14th century, Guy deChauliac was noted to have written a book on surgery and bodywork was mentioned as an adjunct to surgery. During the 16th century, Ambroise Pare, a French barber surgeon, was noted to have mentioned the many benefits of massage. Also, it was Lord Francis Bacon who observed that massage enhanced circulation.During the 1850s, scientific massage therapy was introduced in the United States by two New York physicians, brothers George and Charles Taylor.
Nowadays, scientific research studies clearly show the many positive benefits of massage on our health and well-being.
Benefits of Massage
- Relieves stress and promotes an overall feeling of relaxation, helping you breathe and move more easily
- Alleviates pain and tension, and helps you manage pain better
- Decreases inflammation
- Promotes speedy recovery from injuries (work, trauma, accident or sports-related)
- Increases mobility and provides greater joint flexibility and range of motion
- Improves circulation
- Improves and strengthens immune system
- Relieves musculoskeletal problems and improves posture
- Relieves pregnancy discomforts
- Reduces anxiety and promotes an overall feeling of well-being
- Increases body awareness
Massage Therapy and Health Conditions
Aside from being very effective in relieving stress, there is much scientific research that shows how massage can help with a variety of health conditions, including:
- Anxiety and depression
- Arthritis
- Back Pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Chronic and acute pain
- Circulatory problems
- Depression
- Digestive disorders
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches
- Musculo-Skeletal Disorders
- Pain
- Sleep Disorders
- Sports injuries
- Stress
- Tendonitis
- Whiplash
How Massage Works
Massage therapists will use a variety of techniques to promote healing and relaxation, as well as to promote greater flexibility and range of motion. When a specific muscle group is injured or contracted, other muscles surrounding the affected area also brace in response to the injury or contraction. Massage helps to improve blood circulation, decrease pain and inflammation, helps to relax the muscles, and makes you feel better.
© Copyright, Sylvia Carlson, 2007. Reproduction without permission prohibited.
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Sylvia Carlson - Sylvia has been writing for Suite 101 since 2006, and has written both alternative and mainstream health care related articles.
