What Type Of Massage Therapy Do You Need?

By Mary East, CMT

Massage therapy has come a long way in the Western world of alternative medicine. While massage has always been seen as a viable therapy across much of the rest of the globe, Americans in particular have tended to view a massage as more of an indulgent luxury than a therapeutic treatment for acute and chronic pain.

Fortunately, attitudes are changing as our population seeks ways to reduce pain, either in conjunction with medication, or as an alternative to pharmaceuticals. The question then becomes what type of massage therapy is best for you. Below is a brief description of the most popular types of massage and what they are best used for.

Swedish Massage Often thought of as a “spa massage”, Swedish massage is a soothing, relaxing experience using less pressure and longer massage strokes. This is not to downplay its therapeutic effects. Swedish massage is very appropriate for elderly clients, people who have suffered an emotional trauma or loss, or for persons with fibromyalgia who cannot tolerate the harder pressure of deep tissue massage. Increased circulation and a reduction in stress are the primary benefits of Swedish massage.

Deep Tissue Massage This type of massage is best suited to chronic muscle tightening due to poor posture, repetitive motion dysfunction, and acute muscle tension such as a stiff neck after sleeping in the wrong position. The goal of deep tissue is twofold to reduce muscle tension in the larger superficial muscles such as the trapezius in the back, and in the pectoralis (chest muscles) in the front.

Once those muscles are relaxed, the therapist can then access the muscles underneath the superficial muscles (hence the term “deep tissue”) and correct any additional muscle laxity or tightness depending on what the problem may be.

If you are at a computer typing, a hairdresser holding your hands out in front of you all day, or a tennis player trying to improve your game by hitting 500 serves in one afternoon, chances are deep tissue massage may be a good option.

These are just two of the most common forms of massage. There are literally a multitude of options to choose from. The benefits of trying or continuing massage therapy can be summed up as “Never underestimate the power of touch when the intent is to heal.”