Massage Therapy Techniques Tips
Read these 8 Massage Therapy Techniques Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Massage Therapy tips and hundreds of other topics.
Massage therapy clinics
Massage therapy clinics hire licenced massage therapists. These facilities offer job security and potential for building a client base. To begin a career at this type of clinic, an accredited school of massage therapy can help you prepare.
First it is important to understand that massage therapy clinics are part of the healthcare profession. This means that the skills needed for a massage therapist include the science of medicine, the theory of massage treatments, and the application of massage techniques. Furthermore, understanding the business and ethical considerations of this fast growing career field are imperative to maintaining a lucrative career and future opportunities.
The skills needed for a massage therapist working in massage therapy clinics include an understanding of body movements. This is how the body uses the musculoskeletal system to create movements that impact posture, stability, and flexibility. Furthermore, a strong foundation in anatomy and physiology is necessary to help promote tissue, membrane, and fluid health inside the body, as well as to prevent injury to the client. Nutrition is also important as it often becomes part of the clients wellness plan, and to help the massage therapist understand what types of foods alleviate and contribute to discomfort and pain. Last, but certainly not least, a massage therapist needs to understand basic and advanced motions of the elbows, fingers, and hands that are used during the massage. This includes the movements and amount of pressure applied, as certain movements and pressures may cause pain or injury while others promote health and healing.
Deep Connective Tissue Massage
The deep connective tissue massage technique is a concentrated and powerful massage that focuses on lessening the constriction of connective, or myofascial, tissue in the body. This may help break up underlying and surface scar tissue, as well as alleviate chronic stress. As the connective tissues are released, the body's range of motion, stability, flexibility, and posture are improved. Furthermore, the release of connective tissue tension also alleviates stress throughout the body and mind, which allows the body to find harmony. This type of massage technique may also restore flexibility and strength to the fibrous tissue surrounding the body's muscles and internal organs. This is because the pressure applied during the massage normalizes the tissues and improves the overall health of the connective tissues in the body.
Skills needed for a massage therapist who wants to specialize in deep connective tissue massage techniques include the ability to regulate the amount of pressure applied through the hands, fingertips, and elbows. The therapist must also be able to apply the strokes with variant intensities, often without massage oils or lotions (these reduce the intensity and friction, lessening the deep tissue impacts). The deep tissue massage is applied at a slow pace with higher pressure so that the therapist can impact deep muscles and tissues. It is important to remember that the deep tissue massage should not cause pain, so the therapist must be able to recognize and respond to the client's comfort level and needs. However, the massage is not as relaxing or comfortable as traditional massages.
Preparing for a position in massage therapy clinics
An accredited school of massage therapy can help you prepare for a position in massage therapy clinics by helping you meet the requirements and skill outcomes that are necessary for this medical service. At the Cortiva Institute, for example, you would learn the proper body mechanics and sensory awareness necessary to perform massages. Furthermore, skills such as understanding massage table mechanics and draping techniques prepare you for working with clients. Theories such as Chakra, Chi, and Five Elements are part of Eastern medicine and help prepare you for applying different types of medical aid to meet individual needs. On the other side, Western medicine teaches organ structure, function, and nutrition, which helps you to complete client intakes and track client progress. You will also learn different types of massage approaches, including clinical massages, foundational massage, sports massage, relaxation therapy, pregnancy massage, myofascial therapy, and reflexology. Each massage approach is specifically tailored to the client's needs; therefore approaches in massage techniques are different based on the client's requirements. Understanding how to perform a client intake assessment is imperative to developing a treatment plan that will help the client. Working at a massage therapy clinic will require strong knowledge of supporting and maintaining client health and comfort during massage and bodywork services.
Working in Massage Therapy Clinics
Working in massage therapy clinics can be a highly rewarding personal and professional experience. In the massage clinic, a massage therapist will meet with and discuss the client's needs. This is called the intake and assessment process. Nutrition, areas of pain, and emotional states are all important parts of the intake process. The intake process is followed by a treatment plan, which outlines the type of treatment the massage therapist recommends and the type of treatment the client will be comfortable with. Some clients are more comfortable with Asian medicine assessments and treatments, such as Chakra and Chi alignment. Others will be more comfortable with Western medicine that focuses more on the anatomy and physiology. Most clients would likely be comfortable with both forms of medicine. It is therefore important to discuss the treatment plan with the client and understand the clients comfort level.
After this the client's treatment at massage therapy clinics involves the client laying down on a massage table and the masseuse using table mechanics and draping techniques to keep the client comfortably positioned. The massage treatment is followed by an outtake process that allows the client time to relax and the masseuse time to evaluate the aftermath of the massage.
Before massaging a client, many therapists take extra time to take care of themselves through a moment of inner relaxation to prepare the mind and maintain calm. This is accompanied by (or followed by, depending on the personal preference) a minute of stretching the body and preparing the hands, arms, and fingers. Remember that the massage therapist must also take care of themselves before they can take care of clients!
Uses of Massage Therapy Techniques
Massage techniques is one of the oldest forms of therapy practiced throughout the world. In ancient China, massage techniques were practiced over 2,000 years ago to heal pain and paralysis. Interestingly, ancient Egyptian tombs held figurines of massage techniques in practice, so the masseuse could follow the person into the afterlife. In India, massage techniques were used in relation to religious and aromatherapy practices to heal the mind, body, and spirit. Massage techniques were introduced into Western civilization during the 19th century, when Swedish masseuses became popular. In World War 1, massage techniques were used to help soldiers suffering from nerve damage and post-war traumas, such as shell shock. In Africa, massage techniques, along with art and music therapy, have been used on children suffering from post-traumatic stress due to war and violence in some regions, such as the Congo, with positive results.
Today massage techniques are used in a variety of applications, from sports to medicine and stress relief, massages are becoming part of the mainstream practices to alleviate pain, suffering, and increase over-all well-being. Massages are used in clinics, hospitals, spas, hotels, health and fitness facilities, gymnasiums, and private practice. Massage therapy has been used to reduce pain and stress in serious illnesses, such as cancer, AIDS, and fibromyalgia. Massages are also used to reduce stress and help people feel physically comfortable. If you would like to learn more about massage techniques that help people overcome illness and alleviate pain, consider going to massage therapy school at an accredited education facility such as the Cortiva Institute.
Neuromuscular Massage Therapy
These massage therapy techniques are based on the ability to apply various pressures in combination of movements, such as gliding, grasping, and friction. This is used to alleviate muscle spasms that occur along the back and spinal areas. Continuous pressure is applied for a short time with elbows, fingers, and knuckles. This pressure is maintained consistently for the time frame to encourage blood flow, which alleviates spasms. As blood flow increases, the body naturally removes built up lactic acid. This is because as the muscles move, lactic acid forms in the muscles, which causes soreness. The motions in the massage therapy techniques applied in neuromuscular therapy are designed to disperse the amount of lactic acid built up and allow for clean oxygen to flow into the muscles through the circulatory system.
The skills needed for a massage therapist wishing to specialize in this technique include an in depth understanding of muscular and back pain and the physiological causes of this pain. Furthermore, knowledge of the musculoskeletal system is imperative to prevent damage to the client. Importantly, massage therapists should understand the types of motions and pressures applied by the hands, fingers, and elbows and how the body reacts to these.
An accredited school of massage therapy, like the Cortiva Institute, will hold courses in anatomy and physiology that help build the understandings and knowledge necessary to prevent injury to the client and to promote the client's overall health and well being.
Deep Muscle Therapy
Massage techniques in deep muscle therapy are geared towards pain alleviation. Fiberous tissue and muscle injury cause chronic joint and muscle pain. They also are contributors to bad posture, low stability and coordination, and generally impact the well-being of the client. Deep muscle therapy is aimed at relieving chronic pain in the muscle and connective (fiberous) tissues in the body, which leads to better flexibility, increased range of motion, and creates a better feeling of harmony within the client's body. It is important to remember that injury does not always mean a physical accident, sometimes mental anguish and stress can lead to joint and muscle pain, too.
The Cortiva Institute is one school of massage therapy where you can learn to apply this method to help better the lives of people suffering from chronic pain due to these types of injuries. As a student, you would learn how to perform deep muscle massage techniques by encouraging the body's blood and lymph circulations. You would also learn how this can release toxins from the body and help the body self-repair damaged tissue and muscle cells at an anatomical level.
The skills needed for a massage therapist practicing this massage technique include the ability to apply strokes with variant amounts of pressure to stimulate the muscles and tissues beneath the skin.
Cranio-Sacral Massage Therapy Techniques
Cranio-Sacral Therapy (CST) is based on the ability of the massage technique to manipulate the soft tissues in the head (cranium) combined with the spine and pelvis movements. Alignments in this area help with posture, stability, and movements. This massage technique also involves the membranes and cerebrospinal fluids surrounding the brain and spinal cord. These membranes and fluids prevent brain and spinal injury, so it is important to maintain health and strength in these body components. The CST massage therapy techniques are based on the theory that blockages of the spinal fluid create nerve, muscle, and joint strain. These blockages can also cause migraines and emotional distress. Removing the blockages helps to alleviate these types of pain and symptoms.
The skills needed for a massage therapist in CST include strong knowledge of the membranes and fluids in the brain and spinal areas. This is imperative as improper application of pressure can injure, rather than help, clients. The therapist must also be able to apply very gentle pressures and respond to the client's comfort levels. Applying too much pressure can also injure the client in this special massage technique.
An accredited school of massage therapy would teach a massage student the important body functions, organs, and fluids that create the cranio-sacral system. This would be followed by the theory behind how CST functions to alleviate medical problems in clients, and hands-on experience in applying the massage technique. Most schools, like the Cortiva Institute, teach by incorporating science, theory, and hands-on experience to deliver a well-rounded education.
| Guru Spotlight |
| Lynne Christen |
