Kneaded Touch of Professional Massage
12650 Lake Ridge Drive
B
Woodbridge, VA 22192
More Complementary & Integrative Healthcare Articles
What is Massage Therapy?
According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), massage is the art and skill of manipulating the soft tissue of the body, especially the musculature.
This is done to relieve tense and sore muscles, increase circulation of body fluids, reduce stress and anxiety, improve immune system functioning, improve joint mobility and promote a feeling of well being.
If you consider that the body is comprised mostly of muscle mass, and that muscles have a direct effect on our bones/joints, nerves and blood vessels then it’s easy to understand why muscle spasms can be so painful and debilitating when they go untreated.
There are countless massage therapy techniques that are designed to decrease pain and discomfort associated with muscle spasms and body tension. The most familiar technique is Swedish massage, which is taught in most massage schools for a good overall body massage.
Techniques which are perhaps more specific to certain muscle groups include deep muscle therapy, NeuroSoma therapy, neuro-muscular therapy, trigger point therapy, myofascial release, Rolfing, and more. These techniques are quite helpful for more severe cases of muscle spasms or hypertonic muscle spasms.
More subtle, but equally powerful bodywork techniques include cranio-sacral therapy, Touch for Health, Reiki, cellular expansion and healing, and zero balancing. These are all techniques, which use the skills of the therapist in a more subtle way through the “energy system” or by palpating a fluid system in the body as in cranio-sacral work.
Massage therapy techniques can certainly be helpful for painful muscles and joints whether caused by prolonged stress, accident or injury, surgery or a traumatic life event. When choosing a therapist be sure of their level of training. A certified massage therapist (CMT) is someone who has been approved by the Virginia (or other state) Board of Nursing to use the title of CMT, which is generally given to therapists who have met the highest educational standards of the massage profession.
Another consideration when choosing a therapist is the location of his/her practice. Find a therapist who is in an environment that you are able to completely relax in.
Also, it is important to find a therapist who you are comfortable with and who you can trust as you completely relax during your session.
