How the systems of the body benefits and

are affected by Massage Therapy

Skeletal System

Muscular System

Cirrculatory System

Nervous System

Respiratory System

Urinary System

Immunity System

Skeletal System

1. Maintains posture & body balance

2. Reduces muscles tension that eventually causes structural problems

3. Increases the flow of nutrients to the bones

4. Promotes elimination of waste matter

Muscular system

1. Relieves muscle tension & relaxes muscle spasm

2. Increases the supply f blood & nutrients to muscles

3. Helps to eliminate waste matter from muscles (espically latic acid)

4. helps to restore tone to flaccid muscles and partially compensates for lack of excerise adn inactivity because of illness or injury

5. Eliminates or prevents muscle adhesions resulting from injury

6. Increases flexibilty adn stregnth of joints

Circrculatory system

1. impoves blood circulation & relives congressation

2. increaes supply of oxygen and nutrients to cells throughout the body

3. Eases the strain on the heart by helping to return blood to this vital organ, espically the immune system adn eliminating toxic wastes.

4. Pushes the movement of lymph through the body; thereby stregnthing the immune system and eliminating toxic wastes

Nervous system

1. Can either sedate/stimulate the nervous system depiending on teh technique used

2. By balancing the nervous system, affects all the systems of the body

Respiratiory System

1. Improves breathing patterns

2. Aids in relief of many long-term respiratory difficulties such as asthma & bronchitis

Urinary system

1. Massaging the kidneys can cleanse the blood and tonify the entire system

2. In problems of swelling in the body, massage can affect the elimination of fluids

Immunity System

1. Increase hemoglobins

2. Increase "T" cells

3. Promotes endocrine effects of healing

and well-being

Brief/Overall History

of Massage Therapy

History of Massage Therapy

Dating back as far as 3,000 B.C. in the Chinese and Japanese cultures and 4,000 B.C.  in Greek History, massage therapy is considered to be one of the oldest treatments used by man. Hypocrites' writings include recommendaitons for the use of rubbing adn friction for joint adn circulation problems. In the United States during WW i & II massage therapist were employed in Army and Navy hospitals. Currently massage/bodywork are becoming more widely accepted in rehabilitation programs, pain clinics, stress reduction center, HIV clinics, hospices to name a few.

Althought the origin of Chinese medicine is lost

in antiquity, therapeuticc massage is assumed to have developed from folk medicine. It has many

aspects in common with Oriential traditions,

such as Indian herbal medicine and

Persian medicine. It was believed to be first

written about 2000 B.C.

In 8000 B.C. the Yoga cult in India used

respiratory exercises for religion and healing

purposes as recorded in the Veda books

of wisdom

Egyptian and Persian, as well as Japanese,

medical literatures are full of referrences to bath

treatments of various  kinds adn to massage

Hypocrates learned masage as gymnastic

and Asclepiades, another eminemt Greek

physicans, held the practice of this art in such

esteem that he abandoned the use of all other medicines relying exclusiviely movement. He aslo made the discovery that sleep might be induced

by gentle stroking.

The Ancient Greeks Herodicus/Hippocrates

left behind them prescriptions for massage and

excercess. In 430 B.C. Hippocrates wrote:

"It is necessary to rub the shoulder following

reduction of a dislocated shoulder. It is necessary to rub the sholder gentaly adn smoothly" The Greeks prescribed elaborate bathhouses whereexcerciese, massage adn baths were available, butthese were parronized by the luxury-loving to theexclusion health seeke

In the 16th century was interest renewed, when Ambrose Pare sought an anatomical and physiological  foundations for "mechanotherapy".

From then on much was written about it, but nothing was actually done for mechanothrerapy until the beginning of the last century, when medical gymnastics and massage took on a new life therough the work of Per Henrik Ling of Sweeden (1176 - 1839).

Per Hernik Ling of Sweeden (1776 - 1839)

He began a study of massage after he had cured

himself of rheumatish in the arm by percussions,

and developed a method consisting of masage and medical gymnastics w/o distinguishing b/tw the two. It often combined both in a stimultaneousapplication of the theory that massage is a form passaive gymnastics. He used his system on physicology, which was just emerging  as a science. His system /method would become to be known as "The Ling system"/ "Sweedish  Movement Treatment"

In 1813, the first college to include masage

in the cirrculam the Royal Gymnastics Centeral  Institute, was established in Stockholm by the Sweedish government. Between 1854 - 1918

the pracitice of massage developed from an obscure, unskilled trade to a field of medical health care, and the profession of physical therapy began.

During the 1900's there was several contributions to work of masage and what would help and lead up to it becoming a profession. Since 1980 Masage therapy rapidly developed into a new profession.It has established a national organization, theAmerican Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). Masage Therapy has become a intergratal part of health care.

NOTE: More Information on HMT see notes

in Touch Therapies (Sweedish Massage I & II)

Using fingers to apply firm & gentle pressure to key points on the body to stimulate the body's natural healing abilities. The points are the same as used

in Acupuncture, where neddles are inserted

into the body. Use of this acient healing art

releases musclar tension and increases

cirrculation to aid in healing

A pracitice originating in Asia, where small needles

are inserted and maneuvered into acpunture

points, pathways or meridians all over the body.

The technique is used to treat chronic pain and

relieves a variety of negative health symptoms.

Accupunture, like acupressure, is believed to fee the flow of postive energy or "chi" throughout

the bodyfor optimum health.

Treament which is utilized to restore the natural

balance and coordination of the body. It focuses on basic function such as sitting, standing, walking,

bending, reaching and can affect your breathing,

cirrculation, digestion and mental attitudes.

Widely used by actors, musicans, dancers

and athletes.

Developed by George Goodheart, DC in 1964, this

technique includes muscle testing to evaluate

and restore balance to the body. The use of nutrition, diet, acupressure, education, exercise and

manipulation are included in the treatment.

Aromatherapy is an ancient healing art that has

been used for thousands of years by the

Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Using essential

oils (oils extracted from flowers, herbs, resin,

woods and roots) for skin care treatment and bodywork, aromatherapy is used to aid in

relaxation, imporve cirrcualtion adn promotes the

healing of skin problems to name a few.

An adapation of an acient form of barefoot massage

using deep compression effleurage glidding over

the body. Graviatitional force is combined with

centrifugal and centripetal movement to bring about

a structural change in chronic soft tissue damage. Correct application will provide deep relaxation and stimulate the lymphatic system of the body.

Bars are used over the head for balance and lubricant is applied.

A form of myofascial release which includes movements. Developed in 1977 by Judith Aston

which is a intergration massage, DT work, and movemt. Also it combines not only masage

work, but also a reeduction of the body through movement  and awearnce to maintain change. This was originated in Rolf but later motify to facilitate

rehabilitation, imporve preformance, and prevent

injury called Aston Patterning.

A non-invasive therapy incorporating non-touch

and occasional light touch that balances the

physiologic and energetic functions of the body.

Attuenement opens the sacred space for health,

healing and well-being.

Used in India, means "life knowledge"

or "right living".Could be consider the orgianal form of hoistic medicine. Included in the treatment is the

use of Seame oil to help cleanse the body and aid 

in the removal of toxins. Also focuses on balance and harmany of the physical, mental, soical and spiritual aspects of one's life.

Usually incorporates Swedish massage of the back

with with aromatherapy and salt glows 

to relieve dry, oily, and itchy skin.

This bodywork was created by the late

Lauren Berry, PT. He was a contemporary of

Trager, Feldenkrais and Rolf who devised a

system of "correctives" that involve

strectches adn that work the fasica, cartilage

and joints. His work is possesed on through

the teaching of his advanced students.

Bindgewebs/Connective

(Tissue Reflex Massage)

Developed by Elizabeth Dicke in the 1930's light storkes with focus on the superifical fasica are

employed. No oils or lubricants are used.

A method of relaxing muscle spasm, improving

cirrculation, and alleviating pain,. Method was

developed by Bonnie Prudden in 1976

Bowen Therapy, developed by Tom Bowen, in

the mid 1950's , is a very gentle technique using

thumbs and fingers over specific muscle groups adn

connective tissue. With frequent pausing b/tw

each series of moves, the body is given time to allow energy to flow to the specific area. This treatment enables results by activating the body's

own ablitity to realign, balance and heal itself resulting in healing.

Reeema bodywork and Self-Breema exercise use

nurturing touch, tension-relieving stretches,

and rthymthic movement to create balance b/tw

mind, body and feelings. Breema's Nine Princple of Harmony support the Body's instinctive healing

energy and guide us toward our natural state of

balance. Breema bodywork is done fully clothed 

and is a comfortable, enjoyable and beneficial for both recipient adn practitioner.

Usually provided in a business or corporate setting. Also used for introducing clients to Massage adn 

and bodywork. Clients remain fully clothed.

Swedish masage is generally the technique

that is used.

Clinical Pracitices are often facilities when the

general public receives massage and bodywork

within a supervised setting this given the student

the opportunity to intergrate the modalities

learned within a clincial setting. It can be an integral piecein the overall development of

the professional skills, business savvy, and

self-counfedence needed for sucess.

Usually offered to teach couples, partners and freinds the basic elements of therapuetic massage.

Swedish and reflexology are the most popular

techniques, however, acupressure, aromatherapy and polarity as well as many other modalities

may be included

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular

Facilitations (PNF)

Spa Techniques

(Scandeveian/European Spa Therapies)