Massage therapy has been used for centuries as a therapeutic treatment. It is widely accepted as an effective treatment for reducing stress, for relieving muscle pain and stiffness, and for aiding in rehabilitation.
Massage works by loosening tight, strained or spastic muscle fibers. These muscles are often painful and can usually be seen in conditions ranging from whiplash and tendonitis to headaches, or simply a sore back. Tight muscles may impede circulation or press on nerves as in certain cases of sciatica. For someone who is suffering pain from these conditions the results of massage can be very dramatic.
The benefits of massage are not limited solely to muscular problems. Massage can be used in the treatment of insomnia, constipation or respiratory conditions, such as bronchitis. It can increase circulation and therefore, decrease oedema (swelling), as well as being helpful in the rehabilitation of many conditions, from fractures and sprains, to post-operative conditions.
