The Benefits of Swedish Massage Therapy
Swedish massage is now the most frequent type of therapeutic massage in the usa. It entails the application of soft hands, elbows or forearms to manipulate the deeper layers of muscles to improve physical and mental health. Passive or active manipulation of the joints can also feature within the massage.
The origin of this particular technique is uncertain, though it's thought to have been introduced by the early Scandinavians from the tenth century. It's usually used in conjunction with other methods to aid the client in achieving optimal relaxation. In addition to assisting in comfort, Swedish massage has been proven to relieve pain and decrease blood pressure.
Swedish massage therapy involves gentle manipulation of muscles, which are held and manipulated by the therapist. This is accomplished by sliding hands along the length of the body. Massage therapy is a type of therapeutic touch therapy that utilizes gentle strokes of kneading tissue along the surface of muscles and joints to ease pain and stress. In addition to promoting relaxation, the deep tissue manipulation also aids in the healing of torn and bruised muscles and soft tissues.
Swedish massage uses the same massage stroke techniques used in traditional therapy, such as effleurage, petrissage, tapotement and friction. But it incorporates a gentle circular motion which enables therapists to more thoroughly penetrate the muscles and reduce the strain on the joints and ligaments. This prevents the muscles from tensing up. A good therapist can reduce muscle stiffness by applying constant pressure.
A major benefit of Swedish massage is its effect in reducing stress and tension, particularly in the back, neck and shoulders. Swedish massage relieves pain, improves blood circulation and reduces stress hormones. It enhances the state of alertness, improves blood circulation, increases oxygen and carbon dioxide metabolism, and stimulates the nervous system. Other physical benefits include: reduced blood pressure, better immunity, improved mental health and less fatigue, relief from insomnia, and reduce skin inflammation.
Effleurage is one of the key strokes used in Swedish massage. In Swedish massage, effleurage is put from the earlobe into the backbone, and from the trunk to the neck and shoulders. The therapist uses long, flowing strokes that gradually increase pressure to the muscle, allowing the muscle to relax.
In comparison with the traditional methods, Swedish massage techniques make use of fewer massaging strokes and focus more on effleurage and petrissage. Effleurage techniques include long, sweeping strokes, whereas petrissage techniques involve using kneading or gentle rubbing movements. While Swedish massage techniques are far more gentle than the standard forms of massage, it's not as physically demanding as the other forms of massage therapies. This means that people who have physical conditions such as arthritis, Parkinson's disease or scoliosis can still derive many of the wellness and health benefits of this type of therapy.
For nearly all patients, participate in a daily Swedish massage will offer long-term health benefits, in addition to help patients reduce their symptoms associated with pain, stiffness and immobility. To find out more about this remarkable massage type, contact your regional massage therapist today. Your therapist will have the ability to supply you with a complete Swedish massage therapy session designed just for you.
Throughout the Swedish massage therapy session, your therapist may concentrate his or her attention not only on the body areas being treated, but also on the muscles and tissues surrounding these regions. So as to enhance the therapeutic benefits of this massage style, it's important for your therapist to employ appropriate massage therapy techniques. These massage techniques should stimulate the lymphatic system, improve blood circulation, and promote natural lymphatic drainage. Swedish massage therapy is known to increase the flow of lymph fluid through the body and increases the lymphatic drainage process, which helps to remove waste and toxins from the body.
A number of scientific studies have been done on the positive health effects of the sort of Swedish massage therapy on individuals suffering from hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and even cancer. High blood pressure is a condition that results from excess sodium in the blood. Individuals who suffer from high blood pressure may benefit from therapeutic techniques as a means to reduce the amount of sodium in their blood. This may potentially allow individuals with high blood pressure to reduce the need for drugs and reduce the risk of heart attacks or strokes. Studies also indicate that Swedish massage therapy might be helpful for reducing the build up of lactic acid in the muscle tissues and reducing the pain associated with sore muscles.
Another condition that may benefit from the therapeutic use of Swedish massage therapy is those patients suffering from conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, partial wrist or hand tremors, and Rheumatoid arthritis. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve in the wrist becomes pressed or squeezed by the arm muscles, causing numbness or tingling sensations. Temporary relief from carpal tunnel syndrome can be accomplished by gently rotating the wrist or applying slight manipulation to the forearm muscles. Hand tremors are typically brought on by stress or anxiety, and can be treated using gentle squeezing, mezzanine strokes, or rhythmic stretching movements.