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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND INFORMATION
What is 'Massage Therapy'?
What are the physical benefits of Massage Therapy?
What illnesses/ disorders/ diseases can be treated with Massage Therapy?
What does research show about Massage Therapy?
What can I expect at my first appointment?
What qualifications does the Therapist possess?
Do I need a doctors referral?
What is the cost?Q. What is 'Massage Therapy'?
A. The definition of 'massage' is manual soft tissue manipulation, and includes holding, causing movement, and/or applying pressure to the body. Therapy is a series of actions aimed at achieving or increasing health and wellness. Therefore, 'Massage Therapy' is a treatment in which the practitioner applies manual techniques, and may apply adjunctive therapies, with the intention of positively affecting the health and well-being of the client. 'Manual' means by use of hand or body. More about the techniques of Massage Therapy.Q. What are the physical benefits of Massage Therapy?
A. Some of the main physical benefits include:
Q. What illnesses/ disorders/ diseases can be treated with Massage Therapy?
A. People find that therapeutic massage can help with a wide range of medical conditions from allergies to chronic pain. Here is a list of some of the conditions that can be treated with Massage Therapy:
- Allergies
- Anxiety and stress
- Arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
- Asthma and bronchitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Chronic and temporary pain
- Circulatory problems
- Depression
- Digestive disorders, including spastic colon, constipation and diarrhea
- Headache, especially when due to muscle tension
- Insomnia
- Myofascial pain (a condition of the tissue connecting the muscles)
- Reduced range of motion
- Sinusitis
- Sports injuries, including pulled or strained muscles and sprained ligaments
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ)
Q. What does research show about Massage Therapy?
A. Research on the effects of massage therapy has been ongoing for more than 120 years. A surge in research over the past 20 years has resulted in more than 2,500 published studies. At the University of Miami School of Medicine's Touch Research Institute, 70 studies on touch — the majority on massage therapy — have been published or are under way. Recent and ongoing research at some of the nation's hospitals, such as Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, is expanding knowledge of the benefits of massage for a variety of injuries and ailments.
Among research findings:
-Massage increases activity level of the body's natural "killer cells", boosting the immune system.
-Office workers massaged regularly were more alert, performed better and were less stressed than those who weren't massaged.
-Massage therapy decreased the effects of anxiety, tension, depression, pain, and itching in burn patients.
-Abdominal surgery patients recovered more quickly after massage.
-Premature infants who were massaged gained more weight and fared better than those who weren't.
-Autistic children showed less erratic behavior after massage therapy.
Q.What can I expect at my first appointment?
A. The first appointment generally begins with the massage therapist asking what prompted you to get a massage, your current physical condition, medical history, lifestyle, stress level, and painful areas. The massage therapist may ask you about your health goals and what you hope the massage will do to help you achieve those goals.
For a full-body massage, you will be asked to remove clothing to your level of comfort. Undressing takes place in private, and a sheet, towel or gown is provided for draping. The therapist will undrape only the part of your body being massaged, ensuring that your modesty is respected at all times. Your massage will take place in a comfortable atmosphere and on a cushioned table. You should expect a peaceful, relaxing experience.
Some massages, such as those onsite at a sporting event or at your place of business, are done while you are fully clothed. For this type of massage, often called “seated” massage, you will sit in a specially designed portable chair.
