Massage Therapy

Massage is the treatment and practice of manipulation of the soft body tissues with physical, functional, i.e. mechanical, medical/therapeutic, and in some cases psychological purposes and goals.

Massage involves acting on and manipulating the patient's body with pressure (structured, unstructured, stationary, and/or moving), tension, motion, or vibration done manually or with mechanical aids. Target tissues may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, joints, or other connective tissue, as well as lymphatic vessels, and/or organs of the gastrointestinal system. Massage can be applied with the hands, fingers, elbows, forearm, and feet. There are over eighty different massage modalities. 

In professional settings massage involves the client being treated while lying on a massage table, sitting in a massage chair, or lying on a mat on the floor. The massage subject may be fully or partly unclothed. Parts of the body may be covered with towels or sheets.

Massage therapy can be useful in the management of a wide range of injuries, disease processes, and other conditions, including:

• back and neck pain

• postural problems

• occupational injuries

• arthritis

• amputee rehabilitation

• spinal cord injuries

• chronic airways disease

• rehabilitation following cardiac surgery

• stroke rehabilitation

• asthma management

• developmental and paediatric problems

• neurological conditions

• impaired mobility

• women's health

• incontinence

• geriatric problems