The Benefits of Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is most likely the most frequently used form of massage in America. It entails the employment of palms, elbows or forearms to knead the deeper superficial layers of the skin to enhance physical and mental health. Passive or active manipulation of joints can also form part of the massage. Massage therapy is also known as"manual treatment" or"control stimulation".
Swedish massage therapy has been adapted from the rest of Europe from the Scandinavians and now we see a lot of innovations and variations in its program. In fact, a number of our institutions of higher learning use Swedish methods to instruct and train students. Some of us are aware of its origin but there are a lot of us who are not even aware of its presence. Let us take a look at some of its originators, introduce ourselves to the concept and details of applying pressure on the skin.
The originators of Swedish massage were the Scandinavians, people of ancient Finland whose ancestors settled in Western Europe a long time ago. Swedish massage actually derives from two words, where" Stockholm" and"massa" means" Scandinavian". As a result, the technique can be called"Scandinavian massage". The therapist uses long strokes or friction motions of their hands and fingers on the skin to stimulate the deeper layers. In some cases, the therapist uses their fingernails in rubbing the muscles.
As stated earlier, the originators of Swedish massage therapy used their entire hands in manipulating the muscles of their clients. This was probably done with much more care and devotion than in other kinds of therapies. Traditionally, the therapists of Swedish massage treatment are believed to have spent several hours massaging the patient's body before the therapist applied to any kind of therapy or healing to her or him. This was done to keep the body's muscles relaxed and free of any kind of muscular contractions so that the body would be better prepared for any upcoming therapy sessions.
When we consider the concept behind the originators of Swedish massage therapy, it's logical that they started with the concept that vibrations should be used rather than light touches to the client's muscles. Before the palms and fingers of a therapist would become smooth and devoid of any contact with the skin, they need to be using slow, purposeful movements of the hands, which should create a feeling of smoothness and ease on the part of the client. These smooth, purposeful motions should be accompanied by brief, purposeful moments of vibration on the part of the customer which should create a feeling of relaxation on his or her body. Vibration is thought to be a healing factor itself, although this has never been clinically proven.
There have been people who suggest that Swedish massage might have some type of influence on the cause of Alzheimer's disease in both old and young men and women. However, there is no direct proof to back up these claims. On the other hand, the theory remains to be shown by more studies in different research centers all over the United States and the world. What researchers have found is that the motions of a therapist during a Swedish massage therapy has a calming effect on the mind of its customer, which raises the overall ability of the individual to be able to think clearer and react quicker to situations. The improvement from the blood flow in the body could also lead to the increase of mental clarity.
Another usage of Swedish massage as a therapy is for the relief of muscle pains in addition to stiffness caused by rheumatoid arthritis. The warmth from the hands of a therapist during a session will help to relax the tight muscles, and that's why most therapists suggest that their clients carry a warm towel during the treatment session. Along with that, the friction that's created during the strokes of a therapist's hands during a massage session also helps to loosen up the tight muscles, making the customer feel more relaxed. Moreover, the stiffness and soreness that are the results of these stiff muscles can be relieved easily with the help of a good Swedish massage.
Though there are more people that are incorporating this kind of technique in their own lives, it still mostly stays in the eastern part of Europe where it originated and is most commonly used. With that said, most therapists recommend that if you would like to take advantage of this sort of Swedish massage, you should try to find a person who is already licensed or at least experienced in performing this sort of techniques. If you're not in a position to find such a therapist in your region, then you can always check out the web for more information regarding the techniques used in this type of therapy.