Is massage therapy used for relaxation or to get rid of pain?!


Question: It can do one or the other, or both - and a bunch of other cool junk too (i.e. assist in mental disorders, recoveries from surgery, addiction therapy, improving sport performance, etc. etc. etc.)

If you just walk into a massage joint and ask for a massage - 90% of the time, it will be a relaxation massage, based on Swedish-style techniques. (info on 'Swedish' - the most common form of massage today: http://www.mamashealth.com/massage/sweed...

And that's great for destressing, feeling good, etc. BUT, if you really want to get some pain-relieving bang for your buck - see a therapist that specializes in Neuromuscular Therapy (http://www.bucklandmassage.com/nmtherapy... Rolfing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolfing), or Myofascial Release(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myofascial_... It would be an involved, anatomical explanation into exactly why these are different, but to be very general, a variety of things (injuries, stress, occupations, long-held emotions, etc.) can cause our muscles to spasm, which causes chronic pain and a host of other problems. These therapies address the spasmed muscles specifically and return them to a state of normalcy. The thing about it, though, is that these therapies are rarely relaxing and often quite painful at the time - so they really are for someone who is seeking to 'get rid of pain' - and will do about anything for it.

Of course, there are therapies in between the two types I mentioned - and anyone can find one that will greatly improve their life. Massage is vastly underrated!


Answers: It can do one or the other, or both - and a bunch of other cool junk too (i.e. assist in mental disorders, recoveries from surgery, addiction therapy, improving sport performance, etc. etc. etc.)

If you just walk into a massage joint and ask for a massage - 90% of the time, it will be a relaxation massage, based on Swedish-style techniques. (info on 'Swedish' - the most common form of massage today: http://www.mamashealth.com/massage/sweed...

And that's great for destressing, feeling good, etc. BUT, if you really want to get some pain-relieving bang for your buck - see a therapist that specializes in Neuromuscular Therapy (http://www.bucklandmassage.com/nmtherapy... Rolfing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolfing), or Myofascial Release(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myofascial_... It would be an involved, anatomical explanation into exactly why these are different, but to be very general, a variety of things (injuries, stress, occupations, long-held emotions, etc.) can cause our muscles to spasm, which causes chronic pain and a host of other problems. These therapies address the spasmed muscles specifically and return them to a state of normalcy. The thing about it, though, is that these therapies are rarely relaxing and often quite painful at the time - so they really are for someone who is seeking to 'get rid of pain' - and will do about anything for it.

Of course, there are therapies in between the two types I mentioned - and anyone can find one that will greatly improve their life. Massage is vastly underrated!

Both, a double bonus.

Both, depending on the need. If you need it for pain, however, I would recommend seeing a professional like a chiropractor.

Both.

And, to the person who said that you should see a "professional like a chiropractor", a good massage therapist IS a health care professional. It depends on what your problem is what therapies are most effective for you, or if any are needed on a regular basis.

For me, with my back problems, I do best with massage every 2 weeks and chiropractic about once every 2 months.

Everyone is different.

Both. When they can get the muscle "relaxed", it can start to heal.

both

im a massage therapist... it can be used for either.. .or both...
there are many different modalities of massage... it can help your body in many different ways.. ends constipation, promotes healing... assists to remove toxins from the body and the build up of lactic acid.....massage is great for the body.....

gets rid of pain by getting rid of nots... neuromuscular therapy...softening the tissue

relaxing the body but stimulating parasympathetic nervous system...

massage can also help get rid of headaches.. lower the effects of menstruation as well...

massage is much more than what most people think it is... bodywork can do wonders

It is used for both, but if you get regular relaxation massage you reduce your chances of having pain so get massage once or even twice a week is recommended.

Relaxation massage can also reduce stress and help reduce depression and anxiety and other psychological issues which often lead to physical issues.

sorry from personal experience massage is great for relaxation but for pain one needs a specialist

It can help with both, and as you read on you will see it can help with almost any problem you have, SO my question is...WHY DOESN'T OUR HEALTH INSURANCE COVER IT!!! can someone answer this for me! Its better than a drug a MD. doctor will give you, Hell Its better than most Md's... so why is it our Insurance wont pay for Massage Therapy. Not even Compensation won't pay for a Massage Therapist. What do we have to do to get our Insurance to pay for what makes us feel better!

Yes. And Yes.





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