The Benefits of Swedish Massage Therapy
Swedish massage is now the most common type of therapeutic massage in the usa. It entails the application of soft hands, elbows or forearms to manipulate the deeper layers of muscles to improve physical and mental wellness. Passive or active manipulation of the joints may also feature within the massage.
The origin of this particular technique is uncertain, though it is supposed to have been released by the ancient Scandinavians in the tenth century. It's usually used in conjunction with other techniques to aid the client in achieving optimal relaxation. As well as assisting in relaxation, Swedish massage has been shown to relieve pain and reduce blood pressure.
Swedish massage treatment involves gentle manipulation of muscles, which can be held and manipulated by the therapist. This is achieved by sliding hands along the length of the body. Massage therapy is a form of therapeutic touch therapy which utilizes soft strokes of kneading tissue across the surface of muscles and joints to ease pain and stress. In addition to promoting relaxation, the deep tissue manipulation also aids in the healing of torn and bruised muscles and soft tissues.
Swedish massage uses the same massage stroke techniques used in traditional therapy, such as effleurage, petrissage, tapotement and friction. But it incorporates a gentle circular motion that enables therapists to thoroughly penetrate the muscles and lessen the strain on the joints and ligaments. This prevents the muscles from tensing up. A good therapist can decrease muscle stiffness by applying constant pressure.
A major benefit of Swedish massage is its impact in reducing stress and tension, especially in the back, neck and shoulders. Swedish massage relieves pain, improves blood circulation and reduces stress hormones. It improves the state of alertness, improves blood circulation, increases oxygen and carbon dioxide metabolism, and stimulates the nervous system. Other physical benefits include: reduced blood pressure, better immunity, increased mental health and less fatigue, relief from insomnia, and reduce skin inflammation.
Effleurage is one of the key strokes used in Swedish massage. In Swedish massage, effleurage is put from the earlobe into the backbone, and from the back to the shoulders and neck. The therapist uses long, flowing strokes that slowly increase pressure to the muscle, allowing the muscle to relax.
In comparison with the traditional techniques, Swedish massage techniques make use of fewer massaging strokes and concentrate more on effleurage and petrissage. Effleurage techniques include long, sweeping strokes, whereas petrissage techniques involve using kneading or gentle rubbing movements. While Swedish massage techniques are a lot more gentle than the traditional forms of massage, it's not as physically demanding as the other kinds of massage therapies. This means that those with physical conditions such as arthritis, Parkinson's disease or scoliosis can still derive many of the health and wellness benefits of this type of therapy.
For nearly all patients, participate in a daily Swedish massage will offer long-term health benefits, as well as help patients reduce their symptoms related to pain, stiffness and immobility. To find out more about this remarkable massage type, contact your local massage therapist today. Your therapist will have the ability to provide you with a full Swedish massage therapy session designed just for you.
Throughout the Swedish massage therapy session, your therapist may focus their attention not just on the body areas being treated, but also on the muscles and tissues surrounding these areas. In order to enhance the therapeutic benefits of this massage fashion, it is essential for your therapist to employ appropriate massage therapy techniques. These massage techniques should stimulate the lymphatic system, increase blood circulation, and encourage natural lymphatic drainage. Swedish massage therapy is proven to improve the flow of lymph fluid throughout the body and increases the lymphatic drainage process, which helps to eliminate waste and toxins from the body.
A number of scientific studies are done on the positive health effects of this sort of Swedish massage therapy on individuals suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and even cancer. High blood pressure is a condition that results from excessive sodium in the blood. Individuals who suffer from high blood pressure may benefit from therapeutic techniques as a way to decrease the amount of sodium in their blood. This could potentially allow individuals with high blood pressure to reduce the need for medications and decrease the risk of heart attacks or strokes. Studies also indicate that Swedish massage therapy might be helpful for reducing the build up of lactic acid in the muscle tissues and reducing the pain associated with sore muscles.
Another condition that may benefit from the therapeutic use of Swedish massage techniques is those patients suffering from conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, partial wrist or hand tremors, and Rheumatoid arthritis. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve in the wrist becomes pressed or squeezed by the arm muscles, causing numbness or tingling sensations. Temporary relief from carpal tunnel syndrome can be achieved by gently rotating the wrist or applying slight manipulation into the forearm muscles. Hand tremors are typically caused by stress or anxiety, and can be treated using gentle squeezing, mezzanine strokes, or rhythmic stretching movements.