Massage Therapy
Massage therapy
involves a hands-on manipulation of the joints and soft tissues of the body,
including muscles, ligaments, and lymphatic vessels. The use of
various forms of massage has been incorporated into healing therapies for
centuries in countries all over the world. Today, massage therapy is
an extremely popular modality within the holistic approach to health.
According to the American Massage Therapy Association, roughly 45 million
American adults received a massage between August 2004 and July 2005.
Like most holistic
health practices, massage therapy is not intended to cure a particular
disease. Instead, massage therapy is said to help the body heal
itself.
Practitioners and
proponents of massage therapy argue that it has a number of
health-related benefits. In particular, massage therapy is thought to
enhance blood flow through muscle tissue, reducing muscle strains and
preventing injuries. At the same time, recipients of massage therapy
typically say that a massage session induces relaxation and reduces stress.
These, of course, are key factors in the success of many alternative healing
therapies. See page on the
benefit of massage therapy.
Note:
Suggestions on
how to find a qualified massage therapist can be found in this archived
article written by staff of the American Massage Therapy Association.
Read More About Massage Therapy
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