History of Massage Therapy
Massage therapy has been around for a long time.
In the United States, modern massage developed in the 1800s.
In the 1990s, some states started to require massage therapists to be licensed.
Many people consider massage to be a spiritual practice, or a way to foster the mind-body connection.
Types of Massage Therapy
A massage is not just a massage.
Research showsthat massage may help healthcare workers manage work-related stresses.
These massage therapists have more extensive training in specialty areas, says Liontis.
Medical massage is more commonly offered in a clinic or healthcare setting, along with your conventional treatment plan.
Another common medical use is tension headache massage, as in forchronic migraineheadaches.
Massage Therapy Risks
If you have cancer, massage therapy can be beneficial.
But its important that your therapist is knowledgeable in how to safely apply touch.
In addition, if youve been recently injured, wait until any swelling has subsided, says Liontis.
People who have had surgery may have to wait weeks or months before massage therapy, she says.
Again, talk to your doctor about whats safe for you before you try it.
If you are pregnant, tell your massage therapist.
For people who have active medical conditions, it may still be safe to get a medical massage.
Look to see what their qualifications are.
Yours should be a licensed (depending on state requirements), registered, or certified professional massage therapist.
Massage therapy is and always should be about health and well-being in a safe environment.
This includes a comfortable environment before, during, and after the massage, says Colizza.
Check Your Coverage
Typically, insurance does not cover massage.
However, some plans may offer some coverage for massage in certain instances,research indicates.
(In that case, you may need a prescription from your doctor.)
In that case, fit it in where it’s possible for you to.
Be up front about your medical history, even if it does not seem pertinent.
Youll Share Your Goals
Your therapist should ask you why youre there and what your expectations are.
At that point, your therapist can talk to you about what they think should happen during the treatment.
If you dont agree, its okay to speak up and ask questions.
Some want music, while others dont.
Theres no wrong answer here, but you should be clear about your needs,notes the AMTA.
you’ve got the option to always speak up during the treatment and ask to adjust as needed.
you might ask them to go lighter.
Youre training your body to get better at relaxing, says Loncar.
You not only release these muscles through massage, but youre also likely taking deeper breaths.
Together, these actions will help you feel more relaxed and also energized as you leave your session.
Liontis recommends committing to 6 to 10 sessions (assuming thats possible for you financially).
Talk to your massage therapist to determine exactly how you might space out the time between sessions.
This search supplies the names of therapists who are AMTA members.
and where the massage-related research stands on each.
She was previously an assistant editor atPreventionwhere she wrote monthly science-based beauty news items and feature stories.
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