Massage Therapy - More Than Just for Relaxation

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dr._Aaron_LeBauer_DPT]Dr. Aaron LeBauer DPT and Andra West LeBauer

Does a massage do more than just feel good?

Of course it does.

Massage therapy is a scientific system of skillful manipulations of the hands upon the body for improvement of health and well-being. The word "massage" is derived from the Greek word masso, meaning "I knead".

Some of the benefits of Massage Therapy are:

Relaxation/Stress relief
Increased Range of Motion or Joint movement
Dilates blood vessels, improving circulation throughout the body
Acts as a mechanical cleanser, stimulating lymph circulation and hastening the elimination of wastes and toxic debris
Relaxes Muscle spasms and releases tension
Increases blood supply and nutrition to muscles
Improves muscle tone and helps prevent or delay muscular atrophy resulting from forced inactivity
Is used for relief of pains, cramps, swelling, strains and many other imbalanced conditions of the body
Provides a sedative, or stimulating effect on the nervous system
Helps reduce edema, decrease pain, and facilitate movement

There is plentiful of research showing that massage lowers stress and it significantly decreases the level of cortisol in the bloodstream. Cortisol is the stress hormone. Chronically high levels of cortisol can contribute to high blood pressure, imbalances in blood sugar levels, decreased bone density and an increase in abdominal fat, which is associated with heart disease, stroke, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Getting a massage or bodywork session as well as any other relaxing activity you enjoy, will help lower your stress level.

Massage Therapy helps athletes:

Reduce the chance of injury, through proper stretching and event preparation, and through deep tissue massage
Improve range of motion and muscle flexibility, resulting in improved power and performance
Shorten recovery time between workouts
Maximize the supply of nutrients and oxygen through increased blood flow
Enhance elimination of metabolic by-products of exercise

Professional cyclists, like those in the Tour de France, receive a massage everyday as part of their recovery process and routine.

Massage therapy is also a proven and effective treatment for people with low back pain, the #1 cause of missed work and disability in the United States. ¨Massage for Low-back Pain: A Systematic Review within the Framework of the Cochrane Collaboration Back Review Group -Spine 2002 concludes that massage might be beneficial for patients with subacute and chronic nonspecific Low Back Pain, especially when combined with exercises and education.

Massage therapy does not only treat or focus on the muscles in your body. There are techniques, like Myofascal Release, that treat dysfunction in the fascia or connective tissue of the body.

  rel=nofollow [http://youtu.be/qaDldYuvZ3o]What is Fascia and Connective Tissue?

Fascia is a connective tissue in your body that supports and surrounds every muscle, bone, nerve, blood vessel, organ and every cell of your body.  Fascia is the gristle on your steak and the white film between your chicken breast and the skin.  It is the immediate environment of every cell of your body and should be viscous and fluid and move with your body.  Fascia can be damaged by repetitive stress, trauma, injuries and inflammation. This damage can create restrictions in the fascia which can put enormous pressure on pain sensitive structures and can cause pain and dysfunction.  Myofascial Release is a hands-on massage therapy technique that can release restrictions in the fascia and it is applied using sustained gentle pressure and stretching by manipulating muscles and fascia directly on dry skin.

Lower your cortisol level with a massage or bodywork treatment today.

Aaron LeBauer PT, DPT, LMBT is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist. He owns LeBauer Physical Therapy with his wife Andra in Greensboro, NC and specializes in treating people who want to return to a pain free and healthy lifestyle. Visit [http://www.LeBauerPT.com]http://www.LeBauerPT.com.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Massage-Therapy---More-Than-Just-for-Relaxation&id=6157986] Massage Therapy - More Than Just for Relaxation

Hot Stone Massage Explained

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sara_Ryan]Sara Ryan
Hot stone massage is a popular combination of a light massage technique aided by hot stones for relaxing stiff and tension muscles all over the patient' body. Swedish massage is probably the most commonly used massage therapy for this type of therapeutic massage as it is done in a gentle and smooth manner. The most common type of stone used on the patient's body is basalt rock. The reason for this is because of its ability to retain heat for a long time unlike the other stones. These stones are usually sanitized before being used on the patient's body.
The person responsible for making this massage type popular all over the world is an Arizona massage therapist named Mary Nelson. However, this massage technique is used for many centuries ago as an alternative medicine to promote a healthy condition. La-Stone Therapy was a modified version of hot stone massaged developed by Mary Nelson.
The basalt or other types of stones used are usually placed on a preheated water container until they reach the desirable and appropriate temperature suitable for this type of therapeutic massage. An electric heating device is commonly used as it is more convenient to heat things there than any other type of heating device. Stones that are not warm enough or lost their warmth are replaced and immersed back in the water and heated again in the electric heating device.
In a hot stone massage therapy session, the process is similar with any of the conventional massage therapy where the patient is required to undress and comfortably lie down on the massage bed. However, unlike the other massage styles, hot stone massage starts its therapy by warming up the patient's body with the help of hot stones positioned on the various meridian points located all over the body. The warmth of these stones helps a lot in releasing tension and calming the body parts of the patient as a preparation for a good massage therapy. The massage therapist also uses oil or lotion as a lubricant on the patient's body for a smooth and friction-free manipulation of the various massage strokes. The therapist has the liberty of using hot stones placed on both hands as he or she massages the patient. These stones are replaced with new stones in case the heat doesn't meet the appropriate temperature required for this massage therapy method. Most of the time during a massage session, the massage therapist doesn't remove the hot stones on the patient's body key points as he or she works all over the body.
Many people are getting hooked with this type of massage therapy because of its wonderful effect on the patient's body after the massage therapy session. This type of massage therapy is suitable for individuals who prefer to relax with a lighter and gentler massage therapy. People with body pain often find this technique relieving, relaxing and energizing. It is also a good way of removing emotional and physical stress by getting your energy re-balanced for a healthier body condition.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Hot-Stone-Massage-Explained&id=6242282] Hot Stone Massage Explained