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Never had a massage? What you should know

Massage is a potent instrument to assist you in taking control for your overall health wellbeing. Find out if it’s the right choice for you.

Massage therapy was once accessible only in luxury spas and health clubs that were upscale. Nowadays massage therapy is available in clinics, businesses and hospitals, as well as airports. If you’ve never had the pleasure of massage discover its health benefits as well as what you can expect from a massage session.

Massage is what it sounds like?

The term “massage” is used for pressing, rubbing , and manipulating your muscles, skin and ligaments, as well as tendons. The types of massage can range from gentle strokes to intense pressure. There are many kinds of massage, such as these most popular kinds:

Swedish massage. It is a relaxing form of massage that involves lengthy strokes and kneading, long circular motions, vibrating and tapping. It makes you feel calm and rejuvenated.
Deep massage. This technique employs gentle, forceful strokes that are slower to focus on the deeper layers of connective tissue and muscle. It is commonly used to assist injured muscles heal.
Massage for sports. It’s similar as Swedish massage, however it is targeted at people who participate in sports activities to heal or prevent injuries.
Trigger point massage. The massage targets the areas of muscle fibers that are tight that may form in your muscles following injuries or excessive use.

Benefits of massage

Massage is usually thought of as a an integral part of the medical field. It’s becoming more popular with traditional treatments for a variety of medical conditions and issues.

Benefits of massage can be:

Relaxation and stress reduction
Reduces muscle soreness and pain and tension
Enhancing energy, circulation and alertness
The lower heart rate can reduce blood pressure
Improving the immune system

Although more research is required to prove that massage is beneficial therapy, certain studies have shown that massage can be beneficial in the following areas:

Anxiety
Digestive disorders
Fibromyalgia
Headaches
Stress-related insomnia and insomnia
Lower back discomfort
Myofascial pain syndrome
Pain in the nerves
Injuries or strains to the soft tissue
Sports injuries
Joint pain in the temporomandibular region
Neck and upper back discomfort

In addition to the benefits that massage can bring for certain ailments or conditions, some individuals enjoy massage as it can bring feelings of comfort, care and feeling of connection.

Although it has many benefits massage shouldn’t be considered an alternative to regular medical treatment. Inform your doctor that you’re taking a massage treatment and make certain to adhere to any prescribed treatment regimens you’ve got.

Massage is a risk

Many people get a lot of benefit from massage. However, it may not be suitable if you are:

Blood-thinning disorders, or taking blood thinners
Burns or wounds that heal
Deep vein thrombosis
Infections
Broken bones (fractures)
Obesity that is severe
A very lower number of platelets (severe thrombocytopenia)

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for massages with your physician particularly if you’re pregnant or have undiagnosed pain or cancer.

Certain types of massage may cause you to feel a little uncomfortable the next day. However, massage should not be uncomfortable or painful. If any aspect of your massage does not feel well or feels painful take action immediately. The most serious issues stem from excessive pressure during massage.

What can you expect from the massage

There is no special preparatory measures to get massage. Before your massage therapy Vancouver session begins the massage therapist will inquire about any signs or medical conditions you’ve had and what you hope to gain from massage. The massage therapist will explain the type of massage and the techniques she will employ.

In the regular massage session, you dress or wear loose-fitting clothes. Dress only so that you feel comfortable. It is common to lie down on a table and then cover your body with a sheet. The massage therapist will leave the room after you have removed your clothes prior to the massage, and when you change your clothes after the massage. You may also get massages while being in your chair, completely covered. The massage therapist must conduct an assessment using touch to identify tense or painful regions and determine the amount of the pressure should be applied.

Based on your preference Your massage therapist might apply lotion or oil to ease the friction of your skin. Inform your massage therapist that you are allergic to any ingredient.

The duration of a massage can range between 10 and 90 minutes, based on the type of massage you want and the amount of time you are allowed. Whatever type of massage you select you will be relaxed and calm during and following your massage. Relax and breathe normally during your massage.

The massage therapist can perform a music session during your massage or speak to you, however, you are able to tell them that you prefer a quiet.

If the massage therapist is pushing too hard, request gentler pressure. Sometimes, you might have an area of your muscle that feels as if it’s knots. It’s likely to feel discomforting while your massage therapist works on it. If it gets too painful you should let them know.

Locating an experienced massage therapist

Consult your physician or someone who you trust for recommendations. The majority of states have massage therapists regulated through registration, licensing or certification standards.

Don’t be intimidated to ask your potential massage therapist questions like:

Are you certified, licensed or registered?
What was your education and/or experiences?
How many massage therapy sessions do you think I’ll require?
What is the cost or is health insurance covering it?

The main message to take home from massage

Be sure to put aside any notions that massage is just an enjoyable way to relax or indulge yourself. In reality, massage is a potent instrument to assist you in taking control of your overall health and wellbeing, regardless of whether you suffer from a particular medical condition or simply seeking a stress-relief. It is possible to learn to perform self-massage, or to massage with a friend at your home.