Massage Therapy is a general term which covers a variety of modalities designed to improve the structure and function of the body through the manipulation of soft tissue for therapeutic purposes. Swedish Massage is generally considered to be the foundation for most types of western forms of massage therapy used today. In its simplest form, Swedish Massage is synonymous with what we think of as ‘Relaxation Massage’, and is a common service offered on any spa menu. If someone is unfamiliar with bodywork, Swedish Massage is often seen as the perfect introduction. The therapist will use a combination of long, gliding strokes, kneading techniques, compression, vibration, and light percussion.
Among the many benefits of massage, research has proven that Massage Therapy helps to relax the entire body, ease muscular discomfort, increase range of motion, lower both heart rate and blood pressure, strengthen the immune system, assist in recovery from illness or injury, improve skin tone, and calm the nervous system; thereby reducing the effects of stress and tension.
Medical Massage involves techniques that target deeper muscle structures which may be the underlying culprits for people suffering from chronic pain and muscular dysfunction. Not to be confused with Swedish Massage performed with firm pressure, these more specific techniques are combined with other forms of massage and soft tissue manual therapy for the purpose of more effective relief from pain.
