Massage Therapy Essentials – What Some People May Not Realise

Your circulation changes. While the mechanism is not well understood, massage is also thought to encourage the flow of lymph in the body. (Lymph is a fluid that circulates throughout the body; the cells in lymph help fight infection and disease.) Massage can also increase the flow of blood. However, exercise actually has a greater effect on increasing circulation than massage does. And during a relaxing massage, local circulation may increase, but systemic circulation actually slows down, as evidenced by lowered blood pressure, lower body temperature, and slower breathing. This may explains why many people actually become cooler during massage.

You’ll get pain relief. There is some evidence that 강남텐프로안마 massage can actually relieve pain. Those who are getting massages certainly think it does. There was a study done by the American Massage Therapy Association that showed 93% of the people who tried a massage, felt it was effective for their pain relief and there are many theories out there for why a massage relieves pain. But, there are some researchers who speculate that massage encourages the release of pain-relieving hormones or that massage may block pain signals that are sent to the brain.

You’ll have improved joint movement. Through the use of direct pressure, massage can affect the muscles and connective tissues in the body, increasing mobility. This can help increase the range of motion in the joints and lesson stiffness in the muscles, tendons and ligaments for those who have arthritis.

There are also psychological benefits. The psychological benefits from massages are well documented. Massage can change your mood, alleviate any anxiety and depression you may have, and improve your feelings of well-being and safety and this is why so many people will turn to massage.

How do you choose the right massage therapist? Before you go looking for a massage therapist, you should talk to your doctor about whether or not it’s a good idea for you. If you have certain conditions, such as dermatomyositis or severe osteoporosis (the thinning of your bones), your doctor may advise you not to try massages. Once you have the go ahead from your doctor, you can start looking for a massage therapist, but you will want to make sure that they have the necessary education and licensing. It might be a good idea to find one who has worked with people with arthritis and who you’re comfortable with. The person you choose should be someone you feel safe with, safe enough to tell them your needs and what you prefer. Please, don’t be afraid to give feedback if something doesn’t feel right or is uncomfortable or causes pain. A good massage therapist will ask you questions about your current medical conditions, if you’re experiencing a flare-up, or about the severity and frequency of your symptoms, such as your pain or your level of functionality.

You will want to avoid the therapist who makes claims suggesting that massage will fix or cure your arthritis, and you can seek either a male or female massage therapist. For some, it makes no difference whether the therapist is male or female.

Be sure that your massage therapist is trained properly and is certified. The golden standard for certification is the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB). In order to be certified by the NCBTMB, a massage therapist has to have had at least 500 hours of instruction and have passed a national exam. The majority of states require that massage therapists be licensed in the state before they practice and state licenses may be even more difficult to get than the NCBTMB licenses and usually have to be renewed every couple of years. You may want to also investigate whether the training program your massage therapist attended is accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA).

Here is a list of sources that can help you find a massage therapist:

Integrative medicine centers, especially those affiliated with academic centers or hospitals;

Referrals from friends, particularly any whose condition is similar to yours;

Senior centers, which usually have a network of practitioners, including massage therapists, who can make house calls.

It doesn’t matter who you massage therapist is or what type of massage you are getting, the massage shouldn’t hurt. Those of you who have arthritis are already in pain and you don’t need more. So, before you have a massage it’s important to think about whether any of the following suggestions apply to you.

Your therapist should avoid places that are very painful or that have limited function, that means you will have to let your massage therapist know what your present condition is before the massage and continually let him know how you’re feeling during the massage. Your therapist should also avoid any techniques such as deep tissue work that might aggravate those painful areas. In most cases if there is arthritis in a specific joint, it’s best to just avoid direct, deep pressure. Your therapist should also use a broad, full-hand contact pressure instead of the gliding and kneading strokes of the classic Swedish massage.

The next thing is to avoid any uncomfortable positions. If you have arthritis of the neck, you will not want to be face down, instead you will want to lie down with your face up or on your side with a pillow under your head. Now, if you are having trouble climbing up on the table, the therapist can lower the table or provide a stool to help you climb up. There are even some massage therapists who will come to your home so that the massage can be tailored to your own special situation.

 

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