April 2002 [Volume 1, Issue 2]
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In this issue of To Your Health:
- What Is Swedish Massage?
- The Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of Massage
- This Month's Massage Q & A
What Is Swedish Massage?
Generally regarded as the most common form of massage, especially in Western countries, Swedish massage involves manipulation of the muscles and connective tissues of the body to achieve relaxation or health maintenance.
Swedish massage uses five basic massage techniques to relax muscles and body tissues, using the hands, forearms and elbows. The five basic techniques are:
- Effleurage consists of long, gliding strokes from the neck down to the base of the spine or from the shoulder down to the fingertips.
- Petrissage generally involves kneading and compression motions - rolling, squeezing, or pressing the muscles.
- Friction consists of deep circular or transverse movements made with the thumbpads or fingertips.
- Tapotement consists of a series of briskly applied percussive movements, using the hands to strike or tap the muscles.
- Vibration consists of pressure applied to the back or limbs, and rapidly shaking them for a few seconds.
Swedish massage is credited to Swedish fencing instructor Per Henrik Ling, who invented the technique in the 1830s. This technique purportedly was brought to the United States from Sweden by two brothers in the 1850s. To learn more about the fundamentals of massage therapy, go to https://www.massagetoday.com/aboutmt.
The Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of Massage
A recent annual survey commissioned by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) polled a national sample of 1,000 U.S. adults (501 men, 499 women). What follows is a synopsis of some of the survey's major findings:
- Sixty-two percent of adults surveyed said that massage is "beneficial."
- Seventeen percent of adult Americans reported receiving one or more massages in the previous year, up one percent from 2000.
- Twenty-four percent of those polled said they anticipated receiving a massage in the next 12 months, compared to only 21% in 2000 who expected to do so.
- As in 2000, many people who visited massage therapists did so for medical reasons. Thirty-five percent said they received their last massage for medical reasons, such as: muscle soreness/stiffness/spasm; pain reduction/management; injury recovery and rehabilitation; improvement of joint flexibility; etc.
- Twenty-one percent of adult Americans said they would seek therapeutic massage for relaxation; 10 percent mentioned stress reduction as their rationale for receiving massage.
These figures are comparable to the 2000 figures (20% and 10%, respectively). The 2001 survey also included a variety of data relating to socioeconomic aspects of massage therapy, providing information on such topics as public and provider perceptions; health insurance coverage; service availability; etc. Specifically:
- More than half of those surveyed said that massage therapists are "providers of a stress-reducing service outside of medicine." However, 31% said that massage therapists are health care professionals, and 34% view massage therapists as complementary members of a health care team.
- Fifty-eight percent of those surveyed would like their health insurance to cover massage, and 53% said they would be more inclined to receive a massage regularly if it was covered by insurance. On the other hand, 35% were willing to pay extra for massage as an addition to their health insurance policy, and 21% were willing to pay higher premiums to their health plan to cover massage benefits.
- Day spas proved the most common site for Americans to receive massage (17% of those polled). Fourteen percent reported receiving massage in the massage therapist's office, while 10% said they received massage in their own home. If given the option, most of those who see massage as beneficial would prefer to receive massage in their homes.
So what do you think about massage? This is the fifth annual survey commissioned by the AMTA, and the numbers keep climbing. If you're not one of the increasing supporters of massage therapy, why not give it a try today? You can look for a massage therapist near you at https://www.massagetoday.com/locator.
This Month's Massage Q & A
Question: Can massage cause node swelling to take place? I have been receiving massage therapy for about a month now to cure an upper back/neck problem and this morning I woke up with a tender lump under my armpit.
Answer: No. A swollen and tender lymph node is an indication of infection. It may be a minor, localized infection, but an infection nonetheless. There's no reason massage could cause it. If it persists, you should contact your health care provider for evaluation.
Question: I am a college sprinter, and although I have no troubles with my legs, someone suggested that a regular massage of my legs would help increase my speed. Is this true, what other benefits would massage provide?
Answer: I would not expect massage to increase your speed. However, a serious triathlete I worked with for a couple of years felt it helped his conditioning and helped him recover faster from workouts. It can also help with soreness, and to keep your muscles loose. I have worked with many dancers, especially ballet, and they find that it helps with flexibility and range of motion. The only way to find out if it will help you is to give it a try. It certainly won't harm you.
Note: Information provided in the Massage Q & A section is drawn from comments posted on the "Ask a Massage Therapist" forum, located at https://www.massagetoday.com/ask/.
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