Massage therapy is one of the oldest and simplest forms of medical care. The earliest written records of massage therapy were discovered in Egypt and China. Over the centuries, practitioners developed different techniques and treatments for muscle manipulation to treat some illnesses and increase a patient’s wellbeing.
Today medical massage is getting more popularity in treating different conditions and is used widely for muscle pain relief. Pain is a body indicator that something is wrong. Medical massage seeks a clear understanding of physiology’s scientific principles that affect connective and muscle tissue healing and treatment.
Not only pain but also muscle tension (the body’s condition, then the muscles are semi-contracted for an extended period) can be a reason for getting a medical massage. Muscle tension can lead to an injury and send wrong signals to the brain, causing more stress to the body. Our body also stores a lot of unreleased energy in the soft tissue, which can disturb normal body function. Medical massage helps to loosen up soft tissue and release energy and the tension.
All the massage therapists should get credentials before obtaining their license. Each therapist should have a strong knowledge of anatomy and physiology – the scientific understanding of how the body works and functions, which helps develop a better treatment plan.
Some of the physical benefits of medical massage therapy include:
- reduced muscle tension
- improved circulation
- stimulation of the lymphatic system
- reduction of stress hormones
- relaxation
- increased joint mobility and flexibility
- improved skin tone
- enhanced recovery of soft tissue injuries
- heightened mental alertness
- reduced anxiety and depression
Medical massage can also be beneficial as a part of synergetic treatment. For example, in combination with chiropractic care, medical massage can be helpful. Massage therapy focuses on soft tissue, and chiropractic care deals with hard tissue. Because muscles, tendons, and ligaments surround these hard tissues, tight muscles pull joints out of alignment. By targeting both the hard and soft tissues, faster and more complete recovery is achieved. Medical massage increases joints flexibility and makes it easier for the chiropractor to put them into the right place.