MASSAGE
Essentially, massage is a way of using touch to create a rapport between practitioner and receiver and to encourage and restore balance on a physical, mental and spiritual level. Through stroking pressure and kneading, massage relaxes, stimulates or tones the body, affecting not only the skin but also the musculoskeletal system, the circulation, and meridians or energy channels.
Along with its technical qualities, massage is an opportunity simply to experience touch. The sense of touching and being touched, so greatly ignored in modern society, is an essential part of well-being by using caring and sensitive hands, he practitioner can bring out in us a sense of wholeness from which our own healing energies can be released.
MASSAGE, PAST AND PRESENT
The origins of massage are as old as human kind, for touch is the most instinctive response to soreness, pain and debility. As a studied therapy, however, it is said to have been born in China over 5,000 years ago, coming from the same tradition as acupuncture and Taoism. But while the East continued it use of massage, the West lost touch with it during the Middle Ages. It was not until the 16th century that a French doctor, Ambroise Pare, renewed interest in the subject with his more anatomical and psychological approach. Then, early in the 19th century Swede, Per Henrik Ling, developed a method of massage and gymnastics known as Swedish Movement Treatment or, more simply, Swedish massage.
WHAT IS MASSAGE
Is a method of treatment wherein the superficial soft part of the body are rubbed, stroked or kneaded for a remedial or aesthetic and hygienic purpose.
Massage is a scientific treatment by certain passive systematic manipulation upon the nude skin of the human body, with the object of promoting and maintaining a balance circulation of blood.
THE EFFECT OF MASSAGE
One of the prime benefits of massage is to the muscular system. Muscles may be loosened and relaxed if they are tight or knotty, or tones, if they are found to be too loose or lacking in tone, according to whether the strokes used are relaxing or stimulating. In restoring a balanced tone to the muscles, massage also aids the circulation of blood and lymph.
Fundamental to an understanding of the effects of massage is the relationship between the surface and the interior of the body. In the East, the body’s organs and systems are affected by treating points on the meridians with acupuncture or shiatsu. This interaction between the inner and outer body has been researched in the West too, chiefly by the English neurologist Sir Henry Head and by Elizabeth Dicke, the German founder of Bindegewebsmassage, who found that stimulating specific areas of the body by touch could in time produce definite changes in certain organs and body systems. Further,. Researched has revealed a possible cause of this “reflex effect”. Massaging the skin appears to stimulate receptor nerves that transmit a response via the spinal cord to the brain from where it returns to produce effects in zones of the body, supplied by nerves from the same part of the spinal cord. These effects include the stimulation and relaxation of voluntary muscles, the opening and closing of blood capillaries and, possibly, the sedation of nerves sensors, resulting in pain relief.
Massage not only affects a person physically, however, it can also produce profound emotional and mental changes. It will relieve stress and anxiety and is therefore of great benefiting to people suffering from any stress-related disorders. The masseur allows people to become aware of tensions they are holding through his or her touch and, in releasing the physical tensions, can dispel the worry, anxiety sadness or irritability that go with them.
Massage, correctly given, offers relief from muscle strain. This is because when a muscle is massaged blood is expelled from the area and when the pressure is removed, fresh, newly oxygenated blood flows into the muscle, thus improving its tone. Tension is lessened by slow, rhythmic stroking, allowing the recipient to relax. The lymphatic drainage is encouraged to become more efficient and thus the clearance of toxins from the tissues and the relief of oedema are encouraged.
REACTION FROM TREATMENT
Although there will be no side effect from MASSAGE, you may experience some reactions. That is why it is very important not to apply strong pressure on the first to the third sessions because it is better that the improvement be gained gradually with less stress on the body. Such reaction like body aches, weakness, bowel movement, or increased perspiration can be considered as positive factors and is one indication that the body is attempting to become more balance.
CONTRA – INDICATION OF MASSAGE
1. Abdominal massage
2. Patients with serious heart disease
3. Patients with full or empty stomach
4. Newly operated open wounds
5. Malignant tumor or cancer
6. Acute communicable diseases
7. Acute inflammatory conditions of the skin, joints, bones and varicose veins
8. Any conditions which will result in worsening of patients conditions.
MANIPULATION OF MASSAGE
In these preliminary studies of the fundamental massage manipulation, no attempt is being made to give you their application to all parts of the body. It is rather the purpose at this time to give you an understandings of the different methods in which the fingers and hands are used to perform the basic manipulation. As you study and practice these manipulations, you will become more and more proficient in their application and your hands will acquire the coordination needed in the application of a professional type of massage.
When giving a massage treatment, there is a rule more than one type of manipulation employed. It is the type of manipulations, the way in which they are performed and combined, the areas covered, and the pre-determined effects known to the technician that make a massage treatment scientific.
1. EFFLEURAGE – consists of stroking toward the heart in the direction of the vein and lymphatic circulation. Either the whole palm of the hand, the thumb, or the tips of the middle fingers are used, according to the size of the part treated. Begin movement at the insertion of the muscle, or group of muscle, increase pressure over the muscle, decrease pressure at the origin, slide back without pressure and repeat.
2. PETRISSAGE – consists of circular kneading movements applied with the tips of the thumb or three middle fingers or between the cushions of the thumb and the massed fingers.
3. FRICTION – consists of kneading the muscles with the palm of the hands by giving circular movements in the opposite direction both lifting and kneading the muscle at the same time.
4. TAPOTEMENT – comprises all manipulations of sudden blow-like contacts with the body of the patron in rapid succession such as percussion, hacking, clapping or cupping.
PARTS OF THE BODY WHERE TAPOTEMENT manipulation CANNOT BE APPLIED
1. Head 2. Neck 3. Chest 4. Bones 5. Stomach
5. VIBRATION – the trembling movement of the hands applied to the body of the patient or subject.
JCV Reflexology Clinic and Training Center, located at 2208 F.B. Harrison St. Pasay City, has become a popular place for relaxation and comfort. With its unparalleled 18 years expertise in providing quality reflexology and massage services, it has paved the way for more employments through its professional training on world-class clinical massage therapy treatments and techniques.
