by Elle Reeves

Created on: June 09, 2009

There are so many different types of massage and new techniques are introduced every day. Massage benefits the body in many ways from relaxation to pain relief.

Swedish Massage

Swedish massage was developed by a Swedish doctor names Per Henrik Ling. The term itself refers to different techniques that were specifically designed to relax muscles by applying pressure to them against the deeper muscles and bones while rubbing in the same direction of the flow of blood.

The whole purpose of Swedish Massage is to increase the oxygen flow in blood and to release toxins from the muscles. Swedish massage also shortens recovery time from muscle strain by flushing out lactic acid, uric acid, and other waste that is in the muscles.

It also increases circulation without putting strain on the heart. The massage also stretches ligaments and tendons to help prevent strain and injury. Swedish massage is also used to stimulate the skin and nervous system while soothing the nerves at the same time. Swedish massage also helps reduce stress and is a great addition to a stress management program.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is a type of massage that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It is very helpful for chronically tense areas such as stiff necks, low back tightness, and sore shoulders.

Some of the same strokes are used as classic massage therapy, but the movement is slower and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of tension and pain.
When there is chronic muscle tension or injury, there are usually spots in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that are causing the problems.

These spots can block circulation and cause pain, limited movement, and even cause inflammation.

Deep tissue massage works by physically breaking down these spots to relieve pain and restore normal movement. To do this, the massage therapist often uses direct deep pressure or friction on the muscles.

Unlike classic massage therapy, which is used for relaxation, deep tissue massage usually focuses on a specific problem, such as:
Chronic pain
Limited mobility
Recovery from injuries (e.g. whiplash, falls, sports injury)
Repetitive strain injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome
Postural problems
Osteoarthritis pain
Fibromyalgia
Muscle tension or spasm

Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger point therapy is a massage technique that involves applying pressure to tender muscle tissue in order to relieve pain and in other

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