Types of Massage Tips

Sports Massage

Sports massage is a lot like it sounds. It is a treatment type that focuses primarily on facilitating athletic actions. It can be used in preparation of an event or competition, after such an event, during training for competition or in rehabilitation from a sports-related injury.

One of the main uses of sports massage is to make sure muscles do not tighten up or form knots. Knots in muscle can lead to pulls, strains and tears, and obviously pain and discomfort. By keeping muscles relaxed before competition you can avoid injuries during an event. Post-event massage will help to prevent muscles from tightening, causing pain and being unable to compete later.

During training, treatment allows one to maintain extensive workouts and training regimens while minimizing discomfort and risk of injury. And when it comes to rehabilitation of injuries, sports massage helps with range of motion, inflammation and circulation, similar to some other types of massage.

Sports massage has become a major part of professional athletics these days, in everything from Baseball to Mixed Martial Arts. In fact, athletes in combat and other sports that require repetitive motion in either training or competition are perfect candidates for sports massage, even non-professional athletes.

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Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is a form of treatment that focuses on rigid areas of muscle and tendons. Direct pressure is applied to these areas to realign the muscle. As a result, circulation and range of motion is increased while inflammation is decreased.

Deep tissue massage can be used for a stiff neck or back, realigning muscles to improve posture, recovering from injuries, and to relieve pain from muscle spasms. It is not uncommon for muscles to feel a little sore after a deep tissue massage, almost as if you just finished a strong workout at the gym. However, shortly after that feeling, the muscles should feel stronger with almost immediate improvement in range of motion and comfort.

This type of massage treatment is ideal for people with chronically stiff necks or backs. Since these areas can impede mobility in pretty much every other part of the human body, improving range of motion in the neck and back will allow the rest of the body to move without pain or restrictions.

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Infant Massage

Infant massage has rapidly become popular in the United States over the past several years. It is used as a way to help child development along smoothly, both physically and socially. This type of massage can allow babies to be more relaxed in a number of ways.

For one thing, it can reduce discomfort from gas and constipation. These are some of the reasons why many babies have difficulty sleeping. Relieving this discomfort will help a child sleep better, and in turn, help the parents sleep better too.

Infant massage also improves muscle development and circulation, while combating common problems like colic. Parents typically hire Massage therapists trained in these types of massage to get the ball rolling and teach them how to massage their children. It can then help facilitate the growing bond between parent and child.

Training in infant massage is invaluable and can be put to good use in hospitals as well as by private contractors making home visits and teaching parents various techniques.

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Thai Massage

Thai massage is one of the many forms of treatment the Cortiva Institute educates its students in, and it is different from many other types of massage. This form of massage has origins that stretch back roughly 2,500 years. It is becoming more popular these days, thanks to the booming popularity of yoga. Thai massage is often referred to as Thai yoga massage.

This treatment consists of a person being placed in a sequence of stretches similar to yoga poses. The therapist uses their hands, feet and legs to move the client into these poses. The goal is to re-energize while increasing range of motion and flexibility. Not only do people use this method to regain mobility after an injury, surgery or experiencing stiffness, but they often use it as a way to generally increase their normal flexibility.

Thai massage is usually done on exercise or yoga mats placed on the floor rather than a massage table. There are no massage oils or lotions involved, so clients usually dress in loose, comfortable clothing.

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Myofascial Release Treatment

Myofascial release is a type of treatment that uses stretching and sustained pressure to loosen myofascial restrictions? What does that mean? Fascia is a very thin connective tissue that covers every part of the human body, from major organs to bone, muscle and everything in between, similar to a membrane.

Remember that song about the leg bone being connected to the hip bone and so on? Well thanks to fascia, you can sing it any way you like and still not get it wrong. Different types of massages can focus on different areas of the body or techniques. But fascia connects everything.

Myofascial release treatment is meant to focus on restrictions where areas of muscle and fascia have become tense or rigid. Fascia is normally pliable. Injury or tension resulting from repetitive motion or poor posture causes it and muscle to tense up. Since fascia connects all parts of the body with each other, tensing in one area can negatively impact others as well. The treatment reduces the resulting pain and increases mobility.

This method was developed by John F. Barnes, P.T., who is now the President and Director of the Myofascial Release Treatment Centers.

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Pregnancy Massage

Pregnancy massage is one of the areas the Cortiva Institute trains its students in. This requires detailed knowledge of the anatomy of a pregnant woman, including safe positions and parts of the body that should not be massaged during pregnancy.

A pregnant woman can enjoy several benefits from this type of massage. For starters, it can help them relax during a time where stress can cause them more harm than usual. It can also provide relief of cramps, muscular discomfort and pain in the joints.

Walking around with the added weight from a pregnancy can irritate knees, hips and the lower back, so massage therapy can make it easier for a woman to get around and handle the extra weight. It can also reduce swelling common during pregnancy.

The healthier a mother-to-be remains throughout the pregnancy, the less likely she is to have intense labor pain. There are different types of massage therapy for many different situations, but pregnancy massage techniques are very specific for the safety of mother and child.

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Shiatsu Massage

Shiatsu massage is a Japanese form of treatment that strays a bit from traditional western types of massage therapy. In Shiatsu therapies, the therapist uses fingers, thumbs, palms, and in some cases elbows or feet, to apply rhythmic pressure to the body.

Rather than long and softer strokes in Swedish massage therapy techniques, Shiatsu focuses on specific pressure points in the body. From a spiritualistic side, this is meant to balance the flow of energy throughout the body. Another interpretation is that it alleviates stress and discomfort while stimulating the nervous system.

Either way you look at it, Shiatsu massage therapy is used to achieve much of the same goals as other different types of massage, but it focuses on pressure points throughout the body to do so. Because this involves more pressure being applied than some other treatments, it is important to be aware of any injuries, wounds or medical conditions the person has that could be adversely affected by hitting certain pressure points.

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