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Methods for Swedish massage were adapted by the Swedish fencing master and physiologist Per Henrik Ling (1777-1839). Ling studied massage in China and learned the techniques, honed them and ultimately they were introduced into the massage world via the Swedish Central Institute of Gymnastics. Normally, Swedish massage formulates the premise for most massage practice, choosing from the list of Sports massage, physiotherapy, osteotherapy, relaxation therapy or stress management.
Swedish massage is extended through Sports massage due to the fact that the latter is foremost about soft tissue manipulation. It helps those who may just have a muscular ache or pain to professional sports people who require to stay at the top of their abilities, by helping them to continue with physical activity and reduce incidence of injury. Soft tissue is the name alloted to skin, muscles, fascia, ligaments and tendons. They are fibres that have not gone hard to form cartilage and bone. Sports massage is employed to help in correcting inequalities in soft tissue coming from trauma, repetitious or strenuous sport. Massage is a calming full body experience where the individual is taken into a state of tranquility or a intense practice focusing on a certain injury.
A variety of techniques are performed for Swedish massage and some are:
Effleurage - These are slow, surface manoeuvres transversely over the skin, using the whole hand or forearm, and are used to calm the client and to aid the therapist to assess body condition.
Petrissage is a method making use of kneading and squeezing of muscles, without focusing on a specific area. It prepares for deeper massage effects.
Frictions are superficial or deep strokes in order to warm up specific parts of soft tissue. They are performed with the fingertips, part of the hand or elbow.
Tapotement is a mixture of percussion strokes for example hacking or cupping with the whole or part of the hand. It energizes the soft tissue.
Vibrations are used mainly at the back of the neck to invigorate and loosen the muscles.
Sports massage utilizes the strokes of Swedish massage and builds in on more methods.
Sports massage includes techniques for example:
Neuromuscular Therapy (aka NMT) is applied to energize deep into soft tissue, usually a myofascial trigger point, using quasi-static pressure to the skin.
Muscular Energy Technique (MET) - This is where muscles are energetically used on request from a precisely controlled position, in a specific direction and against a distinctly executed, therapist led counter-force.
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (P.N.F.) - a mixture of passive stretching and isometric contractions.
Rehabilitation and training schedules commonly incorporate aspects of Swedish and Sports massage.
Qualities belonging to Swedish and Sports massage that are sound are:
Rebalancing the body's structure, by identifying and relieving tensions and adhesions before they become a problem.
Lessen headaches (including migraines) which get fewer, shorter and less intense, through dealing with the underlying causes via gentle easing of tight areas of muscle and tissue.
Massage helps speedy convalescence time from injury by using the body's own healing processes.
Flushing waste products from the body by stimulating the blood flow and flow of lymph fluid.
The realignment of fibres at injury sites helps to lessen scar tissue.
Injuries can be prevented and performance improved due to better muscle flexibility.
Muscle tone maintenance and strength.
General wear and tear in the body can lead to postural problems. These problems can be irritating, restrict mobility and badly affect the body. Massage St Ives - For more information about massage and how you can benefit from treatment, visit the St Ives Massage website.
http://www.debbiekirton.co.uk/
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