A GUIDE TO MEDICAL MASSAGE
BY MIMI GREENWOOD KNIGHT
Massage therapy is nothing new. In fact, it’s thought to date back as far as 3,000 BC in India. For thousands of years, massage has been used throughout the world to promote relaxation and cure illnesses. But in the US, it was often still considered a luxury or indulgence. Fortunately, over the past few decades, the American medical community has become increasingly aware of the benefits of therapeutic massage to alleviate and reduce the symptoms of any number of medical concerns.
Medical massage, also known as therapeutic massage, administered by a licensed massage therapist, focuses on your body’s soft tissue — the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support your body’s healthy function. US healthcare providers are discovering the effectiveness of massage therapy and recommending it to their patients even, as clinical trials show how well injuries and diseases respond to targeted massage techniques. Your general practitioner, chiropractor, or physical therapist may have recommended medical massage to complement therapies they’re already using to treat an area of your body — and for a good reason.
Medical massage can ease discomfort and pain and help you find relief from chronic (long-term) or acute (more recent) conditions, including:
Repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome
Migraines or cluster, tension, or sinus headaches
Strains, sprains, and whiplash
Joint and muscle disorder
Low back or radiating pain
Frozen shoulder
Tendonitis
Cancer-related fatigue
Osteoarthritis of the knee
Post-operative pain and scarring
Alcohol withdrawal
Sluggish immune system
High blood pressure
Fibromyalgia
A licensed massage therapist can coordinate with your doctor to tailor the massage to your needs and target affected areas. Open communication is key. The more information you provide your therapist, the better able they’ll be to help you. Explain what your concerns are and what other treatment you’ve received. Inquire about how much experience a particular therapist has with your specific condition. If not much, consider looking for someone well-versed in your situation.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Your medical massage therapist may create a mood with low lighting and calming music, similar to a spa. But rather than an all-over massage, expect them to spend most of your treatment session focusing on your area of concern (although they may also work on surrounding or supporting areas). The massage work may feel deeper than a spa massage, and you may experience more tissue tenderness afterward. Don’t be afraid to let your therapist know if the pressure is too deep or uncomfortable.
Your therapist may also incorporate stretching into your session and, depending on their training and your needs, may use deep-tissue massage, myofascial release, trigger-point work, movement therapies, or passive-resistive stretching techniques. They may also do “spot work” in conjunction with your chiropractor or physical therapy treatment, where they come in and target an area for 15 or so minutes during your regular treatment.
When used in conjunction with your other treatment, medical massage can help decrease pain and increase your range of motion, make it easier to move and function more normally, and help you heal faster from a variety of medical concerns.