Find Massage Therapy

Find Massage Therapy

History Of Massage Therapy And Its Therapeutic Effects

Massage therapy is one of the oldest forms of art with the human body and the benefits of a therapeutic massage are often underestimated. The history of massage therapy is one that stems from Asia, specifically in China and India. Many ask what exactly is massage therapy, as the term is used broadly in places such as spas to hospitals. What is massage therapy? It is the combination of human touch and moving of the muscles to create a relaxed state of mind. To learn massage therapy, you must learn its different definitions, practices and therapeutic effects known to practitioners throughout the history of massage therapy.

The foundation of massage therapy, especially medical massage therapy is often credited to the Eastern Chinese medical practices of 2000 BC. Massage therapy, however, can have many benefits that are not all medical massage therapy benefits. For example, the human touch element to a massage that has little to do with how you learn massage therapy and much to do with how personable the massage therapist is and the energy they bring into the room. Kneading muscles and skin, having a top of the line massage table warmer or using the perfect combination of towels and lighting is not effective if the client is not in a relaxed state of mind. The massage therapist, too, has to learn massage therapy in a way that is relaxing and creates positive energy for their patients. Remember, no matter which type of massage therapy you practice, patients usually see you for help becoming more relaxed and in less pain.

Types of practice include back pain therapy, medical massage therapy, chronic massage therapy, stress relief therapy and other practices that are similar such as aromatherapy (massage techniques with scented oils), Reiki (foot massage therapies) and other techniques. There is great debate on whether back pain therapy is really effective in the medical community. For example, a Pub Med article by the USA government department of health studied a group of chronic back pain therapy patients and found that it significantly approved their condition and made their back pain less intense. In fact, the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario found that in order to learn massage therapy and effectively help these patients, it was necessary to learn massage therapy on back pain. Massage continuing education showed that, in this study, 92% of patients had improved function, less intense pain and decrease sharpness of pain when massage therapy was used.

Healing practices or medical massage therapy occurred in the 2000 BC but continue to occur today. Most medical massage therapists treat back pain therapy, sports injury or other types of chronic pain. These therapists are often certified and learn massage therapy through different schools and educational programs. However, the longest massage therapy program in the world is in British Columbia, Canada and is three years long to learn massage therapy. While this seems like a long program, for any program, massage continuing education is an important part of any program. Healers in Eastern cultures are often priests, or spiritual leaders who practice medical massage therapy in their community. However, as researcher Paul Ingram of Vancouver, Canada, suggests, massage benefits tend to be “temporary and inconsistent” and can vary from patient to patient, massage therapy spa clinic to clinic and even from therapist to therapist.

Current trends in massage therapy extend past the history of massage therapy and use historical techniques with modern medicine to establish practices that are well balanced between the two. In order to learn massage therapy, therapists today should be open to a broad range of massage therapist techniques, tools and purposes. While massage used to be a simple concept, new Western and Eastern combinations of the history of massage therapy with today allows for diversity in techniques.

Village Naturals Therapy Muscle Relief Natural Lotion 16 fl oz
Village Naturals Therapy Muscle Relief Natural Lotion 16 fl oz

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Description

Let Village Naturals TherapyTM Muscle Relief Lotion make a house call. Massage away muscle aches and pains while aromatherapy vapors help you feel better. Our deep penetrating therapeutic formula is enriched with vitamins and skin softening ingredients that will help improve skin circulation and appearance. Relax and feel your aches melt away with ingredients extracted from natural sources. This product has never been tested on animals and does not contain animal-derived ingredients. The Village Natural Therapy line includes Mineral Bath Soak, Liquid Mineral Bath, Mineral Shower Gel and Body Lotion.

Features

  • Massage away muscle aches and pains while aromatherapy vapors help you feel better
  • Deep penetrating therapeutic formula enriched with vitamins and skin softening ingredients
  • Help improve skin circulation and appearance
  • Includes mineral bath soak, liquid mineral bath, mineral shower gel and body lotion
  • Contains juniper to calm and restore, sage to soothe and comfort, and wintergreen to relax and invigorate
Body Back Buddy
Body Back Buddy

List Price: $39.95
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Description

This popular design reflects years of feedback from massage therapists, chiropractors, and physical therapists. With 11 therapy knobs, the Body Back Buddy stimulates in between muscles and pinpoints trigger points for a more finely-tuned treatment. Engineered to be lightweight, strong and easy to use. Combines the best of the Body Back Buddy features for those who want the ultimate self massage tool. Overall length is 25 . Comes with a free 12 page instruction booklet. Directions: Hook the Body Back Buddy massage tool over your shoulder or around your side to treat hard to reach areas of the back, neck and shoulders. Hold it comfortably by the handles or the frame so that the therapy knob touches the affected muscle. Push away from your body with your lower or outside hand while guiding the therapy knob with the upper or inside hand. This leveraging technique creates self-directed pressure to the targeted muscle. You can also use the Body Back Buddy to apply healing pressure to many other parts of the body such as your legs, arms, feet, chest and hips. Its versatility allows you to approach each muscle from many angles in creative ways. Since there are hundreds of ways to use the Body Back Buddy, take a moment to experiment and find out what works best for you. Use it standing, sitting, lying down or with a partner. Place the therapy knob on the sore muscle (trigger point) and apply what you consider to be a comfortable amount of pressure. When this muscle compression is released it stimulates a therapeutic response. Pressure preferences vary from one person to another deep and intense or gentle and relaxing. However, only apply as much pressure as you feel comfortable with. More pressure is not necessarily better! Ten to thirty seconds is normally enough time to elicit a therapeutic response in the muscle.

Features

  • Can be used effectively over the entire body to treat aches, pains, and sore muscles
  • Alleviates pain and stress due to fibromyalgia and other chronic muscle conditions
  • Apply pressure to trigger points, and along the spine
  • Deep, powerful and strong pressure, that you control
  • Comes with a free 12 page instruction booklet
Scalp Massager (Colors May Vary)
Scalp Massager (Colors May Vary)

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The Scalp Massager will send tingling sensations from scalp to toes and transport you to a more relaxing place. The custom fit fingers will bend to fit your head. Gently raise and lower the Scalp Massager for a relaxing massage. The smooth tips glide across the surface of your scalp. Use it on your knee joints, elbows, ankles and scalp.

Features

  • Increase blood circulation
  • Relax stressed muscles
  • Relieve aches and pains
  • Provides deep relaxation and helps reduce stress
  • Small enough to take with you anywhere
Personal Massage Stone Set Basalt Hot Rocks Stones
Personal Massage Stone Set Basalt Hot Rocks Stones

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Description

Not all massage stones are equal!

Basalt is the preferred stone for hot stone massage because of it’s unique ability to retain heat for longer periods of time than any other type of stone. This is because natural basalt has a very high iron and magnesium content.

Let’s imagine a piece of steel that has been exposed to the natural elements for any length of time. The elements combine to create what we know as rust. When the rust is removed by scraping, grinding, or sanding, the surface of the exposed steel changes in color, texture, and the overall appearance.
Because of the high iron content of natural basalt, rusted steel is much like the surface of natural basalt stones that have been exposed to the elements for 100’s and 1000’s of years. An oxidized crust can form on the natural basalt. This crust changes the color, texture and overall appearance of the stone

Our stones are very unique in that we have developed a proprietary abrasive wash process that gently scrubs away the surface of the stone to remove the outer crust. This means the stones you receive have been through our specially developed, multi-step process, to remove this outer crust leaving the surface more consistent in texture and smoother to the touch, but NOT polished like tumbling will do. Polished stones should NEVER be used for hot stone massage because when combined with oil, they can be VERY slippery and dangerous.

With over 25 years in the natural stone industry, we have extensive knowledge of natural basalt stones. There are several massage therapists that sell stones part time, massage supply dealers that do drop shipping, and various others selling stones said to be for hot stone massage, but at RubRocks, massage stones are ALL we do.

Features

  • 8 – Toe Stones
  • 10 – Medium Working Stones
  • 2 – X-Large Stones
LG-TEC Dual Combo TENS Unit and Muscle Stimulator System with Carrying Case, Electrodes, and Battery Included
LG-TEC Dual Combo TENS Unit and Muscle Stimulator System with Carrying Case, Electrodes, and Battery Included

List Price: $569.99
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Description

Maximize your pain reductions and muscle stimulation with our most powerful and effective lg-tec dual combo unit. the lg-tec dual combo tens unit / muscle stimulator has been our number one seller over the last 2 years. it provides you with the “dual” benefits of both a tens unit for acute and chronic pain and a muscle stimulator for muscle pain, muscle toning, education, massage, and rehabilitation. it has 100ma, which is the optimum intensity level – just like in the therapist office. comes with a 5 year warranty and satisfaction guarantee

Features

  • Tens unit and electronic muscle stimulator in one unit
  • Relieve pain and build, stimulate, rehabilitate, and reeducate muscle
  • Customize pulse rate, pulse width and intensity (strongest unit)
  • Complete with carrying case, electrodes, battery, and instruction manual
  • Everything included for immediate use
Master Massage Professional Portable Massage Chair
Master Massage Professional Portable Massage Chair

List Price: $549.99
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Description

The chair’s aircraft aluminum frame enables a total weight of only 17.4 pounds, yet it holds up to 1,000 pounds static weight, 300 pounds working weight! The included luggage style wheeled carrying case is an exclusive and makes transporting this chair a breeze. A comfortable layer of our famous Small Cell foam covers all cushioned surfaces, including the chest bolster (included), and every surface of this amazing chair is adjustable for a perfect fit! The convenient Session Pouch (included) allows the safe storage of eyeglasses and jewelry.

Features

  • Aircraft aluminum frame is light, but gives tremendous strength
  • Weighs only 17.4 pounds
  • 1000 pound static weight capacity
  • Exclusive Small Cell foam on all cushioned surfaces
  • Luggage-style wheeled carry case
Portable Massage Chair Tattoo Chair Spa Salon Chair
Portable Massage Chair Tattoo Chair Spa Salon Chair

List Price: $64.95
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Description

You are viewing a Brand New 3″ Foam Black Portable Massage Chair. We purchase all of our massage chairs directly from the factory, providing you with the best prices available. All of our massage chairs are guaranteed to be of the highest quality or your money back no questions asked.

Brand new in retail packaging.
Color: Black.
Folding design and easy assembly provides easy transportation. Durable PU Leather (Waterproof & Oil Resistant).
3″ Thick High Density Foam Cushion. Adjustable head support, chest pad, arm rest and seat.
Contoured shaped chest pad suits various body types. Solid & Sturdy Aluminum Frame (Not the cheap metal frames). Safety lock system provides the chair ultra strength and stability. Rubber footing prevents the chair from shifting and floors from gouging.
Weight Capacity: 500lbs.
Chair weight: 23lbs. Carrying bag included. 3 year manufactures warranty

Features

  • Brand new in retail packaging
  • Folding design and easy assembly provides easy transportation
  • Durable PU Leather (Waterproof & oil resistant)
  • Safety lock system provides the chair ultra strength and stability
  • Rubber footing prevents the chair from shifting and floors from gouging
North American Healthcare JB5462 Air Compression Leg Massager
North American Healthcare JB5462 Air Compression Leg Massager

List Price: $79.99
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Description

Pamper calves, ankles and feet like never before! calms tired legs and soothes muscle fatigue. simply slip on and the amazing chambers inflate and deflate, pinpointing pressure points to softly and gently massage away fatigue and tenderness. stimulates the pumping action of exercise and has multiple massage sessions.

Features

  • Stimulates the pumping action of exercise and has multiple massage sessions.
  • Pamper calves, ankles and feet
  • Calms tired legs and soothes muscle fatigue
Master Massage Massage Table Warmer
Master Massage Massage Table Warmer

List Price: $79.99
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Description

Our Massage Table Warming Pad provides adjustable levels of comfortable and therapeutic heat for clients. This pad is used in professional massage therapy practice, as well as home use. The elastic straps keep the pad snuggly in place during every massage session, and provides a uniform distribution of relaxing warmth across the table. This polyester/cotton blend warming pad is 72″ x 26″ and fits any massage table up to 31” wide and 3” thick foam.

The Master Massage Table Warming Massage Pad keeps you comfortably warm while your receive a therapeutic massage. This pad can be used at home, but it is also a perfect addition to any professional massage therapy practice. The warming pad creates a cozy environment for added relaxation during any session. And with the elastic straps, the pad stays snuggly in place even during a rigorous massage. This warming pad is 68 x 26 inches (LxW) and fits most massage tables.

Features

  • Provides adjustable settings of evenly distributed warmth
  • Pad is 72″ x 26″
  • Elastic straps hold the pad in place on any table up to 31” wide and 3” thick foam
  • Reinforced edges
  • 2 Year Warranty
57 Piece Massage Stone Set w/ Dvd
57 Piece Massage Stone Set w/ Dvd

Sale Price: $49.90

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Description

Andestones USA only offers high quality certificated basalt stones for all our hot stone massage sets.

Features

  • 8 Large black basalt stones
  • 25 Medium black basalt stones
  • 16 Small black basalt stones
  • 8 Cozy Toe
  • 1 Instructional DVD