The power of touch

Nearly from the beginning of time, medical practitioners across the world have relied on their hands. The human touch, often referred to in the Bible as "the laying on of hands," has been acknowledged by most cultures throughout time as a powerful healing tool. But today, with the increase in diagnostic and therapeutic devices and machinery, health providers provide less and less "hands-on" care.

Massage therapy has developed as a way to return to the age-old tradition of the use of human touch as part of healing. Therapeutic massage is used by many for relief from injuries and certain chronic and acute conditions, and also to help with the stresses of daily life. Some research studies show that massage therapy reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure, increases blood circulation and lymph flow, relaxes muscles, improves range of motion, and increases endorphins, which affect pain perception. Although massage therapy does not increase muscle strength, it can stimulate weak, inactive muscles and partially compensate for the lack of exercise and inactivity resulting from illness or injury. Practitioners believe it can also hasten and lead to a more complete recovery from exercise or injury.

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What is massage therapy?

Massage therapy consists of the use of hands or sometimes forearms, elbows, and feet, used to manipulate the soft body tissues in order to return them to a normal, healthier state. It includes holding, causing movement, and/or applying pressure to the body. Therapeutic massages can be given practically anywhere, ranging from a 15-minute massage of the shoulders and back for someone sitting in a chair to an hour-long, head-to-toe massage on a padded massage table.

Consumers visit massage therapists 114 million times each year.¹ In fact, many companies are inviting massage therapists into the office as an employee perk and a means of reducing stress and absenteeism.² The massage boon can be attributed partly to the baby boom, a growing population of aging and tired people who are frequently overworked and stressed out.

Although massage therapy may not be the cure to all that ails you, it can help alleviate a variety of maladies, from stress to pain. Some physicians are prescribing therapeutic massage for a wide range of medical conditions, including allergies, arthritis, headache, myofascial pain, sinusitis, and sports injuries. "It would be difficult to find anything that has the wide range of benefits that massage does," says E. Houston LeBrun, past president of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). "It's a wonderful way to help your body deal with daily stresses."

According to the American Massage Therapy Association, massage therapy improves functioning of the circulatory, lymphatic, muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems and may improve the rate at which the body recovers from injury and illness. It comes in many forms, including:

• Swedish, a gentle, relaxing massage
• Pressure point therapy for certain conditions or injuries
• Sports massage which focuses on muscle groups relevant to a particular sport

Therapeutic massage is sometimes not recommended for some people with:

• Phlebitis (inflammation of the veins)
• Infectious diseases
• Certain forms of cancer
• Some skin conditions
• Some cardiac problems

If you have any diagnosed medical conditions, always check with your physician before undergoing massage therapy.

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What to expect

Massage therapy sessions tend to last either 30 or 60 minutes. Often, the therapist will begin by asking you about your current physical condition, stress levels, and whether or not any part of your body is particularly sensitive. You will be asked to remove as much clothing as you are comfortable with and then lie on a cushioned table. For the purposes of modesty as well as warmth, a sheet is usually draped over your body and the massage therapists will fold back the sheet when working on specific body parts. The room is generally darkened. Sometimes soft music is played and sometimes not, depending on what the massage therapist believes to be most relaxing for you.

The massage therapist often applies a lotion or oil to the body to reduce friction, then generally applies pressure to different sections of the body. Let the therapist know if you experience any discomfort or if the massage is too vigorous for you.

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How much does a massage cost?

Fees vary in different parts of the country and may be higher for highly experienced massage therapists, but in general, fees range from about $45 to $75 an hour. Some health plans may provide coverage for massage therapy when your healthcare provider prescribes it. Check with your benefit manager to find out if you are covered.

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How do I find a massage therapist?

You can ask a friend who gets massage therapy, a health professional well versed in complementary and alternative health care, or contact the American Massage Therapy Association www.amtamassage.org or the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (1-800-296-0664) for names of qualified massage therapists in your area.

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How do I know my therapist is qualified?

Ask these questions:

• Where did you receive your massage therapy training?
• Are you a graduate of a training program accredited or approved by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation?
• If the Commission does not accredit you, are you certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork?
• Do you have advanced training in any specific massage techniques?
• Are you currently licensed as a massage therapist in this state? Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia require licensing of massage therapists.
• Are you a member of the American Massage Therapy Association?

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Glossary of terms

Deep Tissue is massage that focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissue to release tension in the body with the use of slow strokes and deep finger pressure. The pressure either follows or goes across the grain of muscles, tendons and fascia.

Shiatsu and Acupressure are Oriental-based systems of finger-pressure that treat special points along acupuncture "meridians" (the invisible channels of energy flow in the body). Massage therapists believe that energy blocked along these meridians can cause physical discomfort, so the aim is to release the blockage and re-balance the energy flow. They can be used for the full body or for specific areas of the body.

Reflexology, also called zone therapy, is massage based around a system of points in the hands and feet thought to correspond, or "reflex," to all areas of the body.

Swedish Massage - a system of long strokes, kneading and friction techniques on the more superficial layers of the muscles, combined with active and passive movements of the joints.

Trigger Point Therapy, sometimes called myotherapy or neuromuscular therapy, involves concentrated finger pressure against painful, irritated areas in specific muscles to relieve spasm and pain.

Sports Massage - massage therapy focusing on muscle systems relevant to a particular sport.

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References

1. Eisenberg, et al., "Trends in Alternative Medicine Use in the United States, 1990-1997," Journal of the American Medical Association 1998; 280(18):1569-1575.

2. "Pressing the Flesh," New York 31(1):36-40 (January 12, 1998).
Fields of Practice - Alternative Systems of Medical Practice. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Division of Complementary Medicine

American Massage Therapy Association

The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork