Massage Modalities, Part 1

The ancient art of massage is a very personal form of care, both for the client and for the therapist. Although there are more than 200 types of recognized modalities, most practitioners customize their sessions to address particular issues that the client indicates, or that the client’s body reveals to the therapist’s educated hands.

Massage is no longer simply a treat for the pampered spa client. In addition to relieving aches, pains, tension and stress, massage has therapeutic benefits for a variety of common conditions, including pinched nerves, bursitis, sciatica and even rotator-cuff injuries.

Whether your idea of a massage includes being pampered with soft music, enticing scents and a soothing touch, or a more therapeutic treatment that relieves pain in troublesome areas, the choice of licensed massage therapists in the Rogue Valley is abundant, so go forth and be soothed.

Swedish

Therapists use long smooth strokes, kneading and circular movements on superficial layers of muscle. This type of massage usually includes warm oil or lotion and is very gentle and relaxing. It’s a good introduction to massage.

Hot Stone

A popular choice for spa clients is the hot stone massage which uses smooth, heat-retaining stones placed on specific points on the body to warm and loosen tight muscles, boost blood circulation and balance energy centers.

Deep Tissue

Deep tissue work isn’t about someone using their strength to apply more pressure, which will usually cause a person to tense up. This massage method stimulates the deeper muscles and connective tissue, helping to relieve pain and tension. Deep tissue massage is used for chronically tight or painful muscles, repetitive strain, correcting postural issues or recovery from injury.

Trigger Point Therapy

This modality concentrates on the knots or trigger points in the muscles that are the cause of pain. Interestingly, trigger points often radiate pain to other areas. Most people don’t realize that where they feel pain is not always where the pain is generated. For instance, if you have a headache, the back of the neck and the top of the shoulders are trigger points down at the base of the skull.