Massage therapy

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy (pronunciation: /məˈsäj ˈTHerəpē/) is a type of treatment in which a trained and certified medical professional manipulates the soft tissues of your body — muscle, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and skin — using varying degrees of pressure and movement.

Etymology

The term "massage" comes from the French word 'massage' meaning "friction of kneading", or from Arabic word 'massa' meaning "to touch, feel or handle" or from Latin 'massa', meaning "mass, dough". The term "therapy" comes from the Greek 'therapeia' meaning "healing, service, treatment".

Types of Massage Therapy

There are several types of massage that focus on different parts of the body or healing approaches. Some of the most common types include:

• Swedish massage
• Deep tissue massage
• Sports massage
• Trigger point massage
• Reflexology
• Shiatsu massage

Benefits of Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is used for a variety of health-related purposes, including to relieve pain, rehabilitate sports injuries, reduce stress, increase relaxation, address anxiety and depression, and aid general wellness.

Related Terms

• Physiotherapy
• Chiropractic
• Acupuncture
• Aromatherapy
• Reiki

See Also

• List of types of massage
• Massage techniques
• History of massage

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Massage therapy
• Wikipedia's article - Massage therapy

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