Massage therapy is still widely misunderstood. A lot of people think it is a fairly one-dimensional form of treatment with a limited number of outcomes, and it is usually only done to treat athletes. All of these misconceptions need to be addressed and corrected because at our Mt Eden physio clinic, we use massage therapy to treat a wide range of conditions and help people from all walks of life – not just athletes.
Massage as therapy has quite a history. It can be traced back to Ayurveda massage in India from around 3000 BC. Both Eastern and Western societies have since discovered the undoubted benefits of massage in relieving pain, healing injuries, and preventing and curing some forms of illness. And, as we all know, massage can help reduce stress and promote deep relaxation.
The connection between massage and relaxation is the foundation for many of the misconceptions surrounding therapeutic massage. A lot of people believe that is only good for helping them relax. But the truth is, massage therapy is a well-credentialled healing method, and that is why we incorporate it into our range of services.
There are a variety of massage techniques beyond just relaxation that can be applied and they include:
- Clinical/remedial/therapeutic massage
- Movement re-education
- Energy work
- Deep tissue massage – uses slow, deep strokes to target the inner layers of your muscles and connective tissues. This can help break up scar tissue that forms following an injury and reduce tension in muscle and tissue. Can also promote faster healing by increasing blood flow and reducing inflammation
- Swedish massage – gentler than deep tissue massage and perfect for tension relief
- Myofascial release – physical therapy often used to treat myofascial pain syndrome, a chronic pain disorder caused by sensitivity and tightness in your myofascial tissues which surround and support the muscles throughout your body.
- Neuromuscular therapy
- Trigger point therapy
- Stretching and strengthening programmes
- Education to reduce injury and promote wellness
- Breath work
- Postural and rehabilitation information
Yes, there’s more to massage therapy than you might have thought! It’s not just about relaxing. It’s about healing as well, and in that respect, it can be highly effective. If you’ve been unable to free yourself from chronic pain, or if any other ongoing health-related issue concerns you, therapeutic massage could help. It’s certainly worth exploring further, so contact us at Cairnhill Physiotherapy and we can discuss whether or not massage might work for you.