In tough economic times, many of us would not even dream of getting a massage. We think of massages as a luxury item-something that we might give as a treat to someone else as a gift. But did you know that massages are good for you, especially in times of stress?
Massage has been practiced for thousands of years by the Chinese, Hindus, Persians and Egyptians. The Western medical community has recently been touting the health benefits for back pain, migraine headaches, nausea from cancer treatments, osteoarthritis, depression, insomnia, anxiety, sciatica, high blood pressure, carpal tunnel syndrome, post-operative pain, and PMS. According to the 2010 Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, reseachers have found that people who undergo massage have measurable changes in their immune systems, even after one massage. Scientists noticed changes in cortisol levels which affect stress as well as lymphocyte and other white blood cell levels associated with the immunity. Of course, practitioners recommend that you have a series of massages to experience long lasting health effects. But even if you can’t do that, even one massage can help, and often your insurance will cover it if the treatment is prescribed by a physician.
So how do you know which type is right for you? There are over 250 massage styles, but here is a description of the most well known types.
Swedish massage is the most common and gentle variety. This involves long strokes that knead the top layer of your muscles often in circular movements. You may experience some light tapping to relax you. Deep-tissue massage uses slower, deeper, stronger strokes to target your stiff, sore spots. You might try this type to recover from a sports injury or after a particularly grueling workout. Sports massages are similar to Swedish massages and are geared toward athletes to prevent and treat injuries and to improve flexibility. Reflexology uses the hands, thumbs and fingers to stimulate the feet to promote health and well being. Practitioners believe that pressure points on the feet correspond to other areas of the body. Shiatsu massage uses acupressure to help the flow of “chi” or your vital energy. Shiatsu literally means “finger pressure,” and the practitioner focuses on certain parts of the body. If you are pregnant, you may find relief from a massage to relieve joint pain and leg swelling, but be sure to find a practitioner who has been trained and certified in pregnancy massage, as there are risks in massaging pregnant women. Recently, many spas have started offering hot stone massage, which involves the use of warmed stones on different pressure points on the body along with traditional massage techniques. Finally, you may want to try Thai massage, during which the therapist uses his or her whole body to move the client into different positions.
Despite the health benefits, there are times that you should be careful or avoid massage. If your therapist does not ask you about these conditions in advance of your treatment, that should be a red flag. Check with your doctor or inform the masseuse if you have unexplained pain, burns, open wounds, pregnancy, fractures, cancer, fever, osteoporosis, inflammation or blood clots.
On balance, massage can provide significant health benefits. Make sure that your therapist is licensed and ask them as many questions as you need to feel comfortable.
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