Ancient people have used massage well before the introduction of modern medicine, well before surgery, drugs or needles. People used massage to heal their aliments.

In many aspects, massage is the most natural of natural remedies. Touching your body where it hurts seems to be a basics instinct, like our innate fight or flight mechanism. And many health practitioners claim that massage, no matter how superficial or deep, provides powerful results.

Massage has developed greatly over time! There are in fact many different types of massage techniques but we have listed four of the most commonly used methods from our own office experience.

SWEDISH MASSAGE uses soothing, tapping and kneading strokes to work the entire body, relieving muscle tension and loosening sore joints. Swedish massage is more superficial and there are five basic strokes. They are effleurage (stroking); petrissage (muscles are lightly grabbed and lifted); friction (thumbs and fingertips work in deep circles into the thickest part of muscles; tapotement (chopping, beating, and tapping strokes); and vibration (fingers are pressed or flattened firmly on a muscle, then the area is stimulated by shaking briefly for several seconds. Techniques of effleurage and tapoement seem to be the favorites. This method is commonly used at spas.

DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE works deeper than a Swedish massage, working past the couple of layers that Swedish massage does. The slow deep strokes and pressure from the deep muscle techniques work across the grain of the muscle. therapist use their fingers thumbs and arms to apply the pressure to help release the muscle tension and spasm from injuries.

SPORTS MASSAGE was developed to help people train better and recover quicker. If you are a world class athelete or just a weekend warrior this massage may be best for you. This massage is like a Swedish and Deep tissue massage using both strokes to help the athlete. Pre-race massage warms the muscles and increases circulation. After a game or race, this massage helps rid of toxin build up in the body and quicken the recovery time.

NEUROMUSCULAR MASSAGE is a form of deep tissue massage that is applied to individual specific muscle group’s muscles. It is used to increase blood flow, reduce pain and release pressure on nerves caused by injuries to muscles and other soft tissue. Neuromuscular massage helps release trigger points, and muscular adhesions (areas which form due to micro traumas) and can also “refer” pain to other parts of the body. Relieving a tense adhesion or trigger point area in your back, for example, could help ease pain in your neck, shoulders, low back, etc. This technique is especially beneficial when used with spinal manipulation and adjunct forms of physical therapy.

Want to find out more about massage and chiropractic treatments, then visit Dr. Dirk Kancilia’s site on how to choose the best spinal decompression in Rancho Bernardo for your needs.