MM Chapter 01: Massage from Past to Present

C. Massage as Part of the American Health Care System

It is helpful to understand how massage fits into today’s health care system. Massage and bodywork are a type of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine). CAM therapies include such diverse forms of practice as acupuncture, Tai Chi, biofeedback, chiropractic medicine, meditation, dance therapy, aromatherapy, art therapy, ayurvedic medicine, TCM, hypnosis, and many others.  The term […]

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B. The Massage Profession

People generally seek massage in environments where they feel comfortable, and thus therapists choose to work in environments that attract their preferred types of clients. The job market for massage therapists is expanding as the public increasingly understands massage and values its benefits. Massage is now offered in a variety of locations ranging from private

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A. Massage Clients

As we have seen, massage has been part of a healthy and flourishing lifestyle in many different cultures throughout history. Today, people recognize massage as an effective and pleasurable way to relieve muscle pain and stiffness, reduce stress, and feel better both physically and mentally. In addition, physicians, physical therapists, and chiropractors increasingly recognize the

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D. Massage and Bodywork Approaches

Many different massage and bodywork systems use similar techniques or procedures to achieve comparable results. Massage professionals often use the word approach to describe this similarity. In an earlier section, for example, different systems that evolved from the work of Ida Rolf were described, and these can all be categorized as “structural integration approaches.” The

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B. Massage Techniques

For this book, a massage technique is defined as a specific procedure used to produce a particular therapeutic outcome. It can usually be applied to various body areas with minor adaptations. For example, tapotement is a rapid and rhythmic percussive technique used to “drum” on the client, stimulating the muscles and improving muscle tone. This

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A. Broad Categories: Massage, Bodywork, and Somatic Therapies

Massage, bodywork, and somatic therapies are broad terms used to describe techniques and systems that promote the health and wellness of the body, mind, and spirit. Massage Defined Massage can be defined as structured, professional, therapeutic touch. Massage techniques manually manipulate the soft-tissue structures of the body to promote health and wellness. The term “scope

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E. American Massage History

In 19th-century America, both physicians and the public embraced massage as a health-promoting practice. A number of physicians wrote books describing massage techniques and the Swedish movements. Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (1852–1943) pioneered many practices at the Battle Creek Sanitarium (the San) in Michigan.   Kellogg recommended a good vegetarian diet, regular exercise, correct posture, fresh

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C. Eastern Wisdom

Eastern manual therapy practices from China, Japan, Korea, India, Tibet, Bhutan, and Thailand have grown out of the region’s rich medical history and a unique understanding of the body. In many cases, Eastern approaches to massage are an amalgamation of views from neighboring countries spread via ancient trade routes. Ancient China China’s medical systems developed

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