by Megan Hart

Created on: December 11, 2009   Last Updated: December 22, 2009

Massages have become more than just a luxury saved for spa vacations. With different types of massage, including therapeutic, Swedish, sports, shiatsu and many others, massage has become a well-respected addition to many medical therapies. Yet choosing the type of massage that would be most beneficial can be confusing, and figuring out what’s important to know before scheduling a massage can be intimidating as well.

According to Robert Burkholder, a nationally Certified Massage Therapist (CMT), before booking any appointment, patients considering massage therapy should make sure their therapist has had formal training and professional affiliation with organizations such as the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP), The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) or the International Massage Association (IMA). All of those organizations require the therapist to take a certain amount of continuing education classes, including ethics. It’s also important to decide what kind of massage the client is seeking.

(www.abmp.com) (www.amtamassage.org) (www.imagroup.com)

Types of Massage:

Shiatsu is energy-based and incorporates the theory of acupuncture, which says that energy, known as "chi," moves through the body along well-defined passageways called meridians. Creating balance in these energy flows is considered to be essential for health and well-being. Shiatsu involves application of pressure on energy points and energy pathways (the meridians) and has been found effective for stress-reduction, reducing fatigue and alleviating a wide spectrum of symptoms. It also does not require the use of oils or removal of clothes. (http://www.shiatsubo.com/site/)

Swedish massage, developed in the 1700s, refers to a variety of techniques specifically designed to relax muscles by applying pressure to them against deeper muscles and bones, and rubbing in the same direction as the flow of blood returning to the heart. (http://www.mamashealth.com/massage/sweed.asp)

Closely related to Swedish massage, deep-tissue massage is designed to get into the body’s connective tissues rather than just the surface muscles. Deep-tissue massage can be a more intense experience than other types, but because it addresses deep-seated muscle aches, many clients find it more beneficial for long-term problems. In addition to the use of the hands, therapists may also use tools to more deeply massage the tissue. (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-deep-tissue-massag e.htm)

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