The term "massage" has French roots. It came from the verb "masser". This word is translated as "to rub". Descriptions of massage techniques have been found in Egyptian papyri. The ancient Greeks borrowed this procedure from this people. It was they who began to use massage to treat various diseases. Now this is one of the directions of manual therapy, which has the widest range of applications.
Most often massage is used in parallel with physiotherapy methods. Less commonly, the procedure is performed on its own. For example, when massage is recommended for the purpose of relaxation. Today, this direction of manual therapy is distinguished by various forms, which can be explained by fashion trends, as well as marketing success. However, massage is distinguished only by the manipulations performed. In addition, its therapeutic purpose and goals remain, as before, classic.
Application
Massage is recommended for the following purposes:
- for calming, pain relief, and relaxation of the tissues of the musculoskeletal system;
- for reducing fatigue (psychological and physical), as well as for reducing muscle tension;
-to stimulate the musculoskeletal system;
- to improve lymph and blood circulation, as well as to activate the body's metabolism;
- to enhance the function of the sebaceous and sweat glands;- to vasodilation of the skin.
There are different types of classical massage. These include therapeutic and sports, cosmetic and hygienic types of procedures. There is also a kind of self-massage.
Scope of application
Massage is prescribed to the patient as a therapeutic and rehabilitation tool for such problems:
- various pathological processes occurring in the musculoskeletal system (hematomas, post-traumatic edema, periarticular and muscle pain, lumbago, etc.);
- non-acute type of rheumatic diseases of the motor system;- vascular pathologies (varicose veins, lymphedema, trophic ulcers);
- diseases of the nervous system (stress, overwork, insomnia, paralysis);
- respiratory diseases (asthma, chronic bronchitis, etc..d.);
- pathologies of the digestive tract (constipation, flatulence, spasms in the intestines).
Massage can be used for cosmetic purposes to eliminate cellulite and lymph edema. It is used for fluid retention in tissues, increased muscle and skin tone, as well as for overweight.
Basic moves
Massage technique includes movements such as rubbing, stroking and kneading. In addition, vibration and shock techniques are used. During the procedure, there arepassive movements.
Massage technique, like everything in today's world, does not stand still. There are new methods and types of this direction of manual therapy. However, the basis of all recent massage techniques are the movements described above. Once you've mastered them, it's pretty easy to learn any new tricks.
Stroking
Any massage begins with this movement. When performing this technique, the massage therapist's palm should move freely over the patient's skin. This produces low-intensity pressure.
Massage technique involves the use of this movement not only at the beginning of the procedure, but also at its end. Produce stroking and between other manipulations (rubbing, vibration, etc.). The direction in which the masseur's hand moves should be towards closely located lymph nodes. This technique takes from five to ten percent of the total session time. The main purpose of this movement is to warm up the skin and subcutaneous structures in order to prepare them for deeper effects.
Slow and gentle execution of the technique allows you to calm the nervous system. This reduces pain symptoms, which is especially important for injuries, as well as pathologies of the neuromuscular system. Stroking allows you to speed up the flow of lymph, as it is performed towards the large nodes of this system. Reception can have a noticeable effect on the skin. During stroking, dead epidermal cells, microbes and dust are removed. At the same time, the work of the sebaceous and sweat glands is activated. Improvingskin respiration, nutrition, and blood circulation.
Rubbing
This is the second technique that provides for the massage technique. He follows the stroke. Rubbing is performed with the knuckles, palm, its edge or with the help of the thumbs. During this reception, significant pressure should be exerted on the patient's skin. The goal pursued by rubbing is the impact on the deep layers of the skin.
There are a great many options for this technique. Rubbing can be deep and superficial, spiral and spitz-like, as well as two-handed pressure and comb-like.
The classic massage technique uses this technique to stretch and move tissues in different directions. When rubbing the patient, the specialist's hands do not slide over the skin. They have to move it and move it. Thirty to forty percent of the time of the entire session is allocated to this technique of classical massage.
Stretching and displacement of tissues contributes to the expansion of blood vessels, which is a prerequisite for increased blood circulation. As a rule, the patient's skin temperature rises by one to two degrees. Tissues receive more oxygen and nutrients, and get rid of various toxins faster.
Classic therapeutic massage includes rubbing as an opportunity for faster resorption of pathological deposits, as well as scars and fluid accumulated in tissues. Vigorous movements can significantly increase muscle tone.
Rubbingis the main technique during the massage of the joints. This procedure is especially useful after injuries. It allows you to increase the mobility of the joint. Rubbing reduces the excitability of the nervous system. In addition, this technique can significantly reduce pain in neuralgia and neuritis. In this case, the specialist must perform deep rubbing along the nerve trunks.
Kneading
The massage technique provides for a stronger effect on the muscles and tissues of the patient's body compared to previous movements. This becomes possible when carrying out kneading, which follows rubbing. This is the technique that provides the technique of therapeutic massage in case of manipulation in the collar zone. It is also effective in the limbs and back. Kneading can be called the main movement when performing sports and therapeutic massages.
The main task of this manipulation is to capture and knead with hands those layers of tissue and muscles that are located very deep. This will improve lymphatic drainage and the outflow of blood from the veins. The mobility of the tissues and muscles themselves also increases during the massage.
Kneading technique is very complicated. It is impossible for her to learn remotely. The fact is that the massage therapist needs to determine the state in which the muscle fibers are located by touching the patient's skin with his fingertips. Only when a person has mastered the technique of this technique, he is able to make a classicmassage. But remember that video can never convey the knowledge that an experienced specialist has.
Classic kneading massage takes almost sixty percent of the time of the entire session. In terms of its effect, this technique is often compared with passive gymnastics and its use is recommended to eliminate atrophy of the musculature of the skeleton.
During kneading in the tendons, muscles and articular bags, receptors are excited, which has a positive effect on the functioning of the nervous system. The nature of these transformations directly depends on the strength, pace, and duration of the massage procedure.
Punch moves
They are the last ones in the main phase of the massage. Percussion techniques are performed by patting, shaking and tapping with the fingers and hands of a specialist in the patient's body. Rhythmic strokes contribute to an increase in venous pressure and a decrease in microcirculation of venous blood. If the reception is performed with the help of quick and energetic strokes, then the nervous system is toned, the analgesic effect becomes noticeable. Percussion massage techniques are used as a distraction tactic. They allow you to eliminate pain when treating the area adjacent to the painful area.
With the help of percussion techniques, internal organs are also affected. For example, percussion of the chest can lower blood pressure and pulse rate.
Spine massage
Back pain is a common occurrence in today's world. One of the methods of solving this problem is massage. And it is not surprising that peoplewho have back pain, often turn to a specialist for wellness sessions. It is worth saying that there is no such procedure as therapeutic massage of the spine. The specialist works on the muscles in the back. However, it does not affect the spine.
During a back massage, a specialist works on ligaments and soft tissues. Hand movements allow you to start a lot of positive processes in the patient's body. For a person with back pain, the main thing is to relax the muscles and activate blood circulation. This process allows you to get another result. It is the activation of blood circulation in the intervertebral discs. It also starts a process that allows you to restore cartilage tissue. The muscles during the procedure are relaxed, the vertebrae are easier to fall into place. That is why back massage can eliminate pinched nerve endings in the spinal cord and eliminate the main source of pain in the back.
Massage for osteochondrosis
This pathology is diagnosed in patients of different ages. Its main cause is the deformation of the intervertebral discs.
Therapeutic massage for osteochondrosis can help at the first signs of the disease. And no wonder. Pathology contributes to the appearance of muscle spasm, and the gentle movements that the hands of a specialist produce can relax tense tissues and release pinched nerve endings.
The greatest effect will allow you to get sessions of classic manual massage, which will be carried out withparticipation of an experienced specialist with a medical education. Such manipulations will relieve or reduce pain, strengthen muscles and prevent the recurrence of pathology. In the event of an exacerbation of osteochondrosis, the specialist will act on painless areas of the body that are reflexively associated with the pathology area.
What is the technique of such a massage? It involves the use of techniques such as stroking and squeezing, kneading and shaking, rubbing, passive and active movements with applied resistance, as well as shaking and hitting. If there is an exacerbation of the disease, then the effect on the pathological area changes from session to session. At the beginning of the course, less active movements are used. Then the degree of their strength is gradually increased. The massage therapist should be guided by the patient's condition.
Currently, acupressure is popular with osteochondrosis. During this procedure, special areas on the patient's body are affected. These are points that have a reflex connection with certain nerves, blood vessels and muscles. Helps with osteochondrosis and electromassage.
Performing baby massage
This procedure is useful for babies, whose age is from two to three months to a year. Baby massage is a useful procedure. It contributes to the development of the child emotionally, physically, as well as mentally.
Children's massage parents can do on their own or take their child to sessions with a professional specialist. The procedure is carried out from two to three months of age. Whereinyou will need to comply with some conditions of massage. So, manipulations can be carried out only an hour after a meal or thirty minutes before a meal. Such procedures are undesirable before bedtime. You can massage babies either every day or every other day. In this case, it is not recommended to use the cream. This remedy is for adults only.
Children's massage is performed with constant monitoring of the child's reaction. The baby should not cry and get annoyed. Otherwise, manipulations should be stopped immediately. The main techniques for conducting baby massage are stroking and rubbing, kneading, and vibration. Movements should be gentle and soft. Especially carefully kneading and vibration should be performed. A massage session is recommended for five to seven minutes.
Heart massage
This procedure has to be done when providing first aid to a person in trouble. Knowing what characterizes the heart massage technique, you can save the victim from death.
What is the basic principle of this manipulation? A person who has lost consciousness is in a relaxed state. It is this property of muscle tissue that is used in massage. In such a situation, it becomes possible to shift the bones of the chest in such a way that the heart is compressed between the spine and the sternum. This is necessary to push blood out of the heart muscle. After that, an important organ is straightened out. The next portion of blood automatically enters it from the vessels. When repeating manipulationsheart rhythm is maintained. It is stimulated to work and begins to beat on its own.
Massage of the heart is accompanied by artificial respiration. Pressing movements should be applied to the lower part of the sternum so as not to injure the ribs. The time of one pressing is 1 second. This will allow blood to move towards the heart. After the push, the hands must be left on the sternum for half a second, and only after that they should be removed. The effectiveness of the massage becomes apparent when the victim has a pulse during pressure. At the same time, the cyanosis of the skin and mucous membranes should decrease, the pupils narrow, and subsequently spontaneous breathing appears.
Massage training
Healing and relaxing manipulations are necessary for everyone. In the absence of contraindications, massage is needed for children, adults, and the elderly. Residents of large cities especially need it. Massage will allow them to maintain good he alth and will prevent various ailments. Performing this procedure will effectively deal with stress and give beauty.
A good massage therapist is always in demand. He is the best assistant to physiotherapists, rehabilitators, orthopedists and sports trainers.
How to master this technique? You will need to take courses in medical massage. Curricula are easy to understand. They can be mastered even by those who do not have a medical education. Massage courses introduce students to the basics and techniques of the classical direction of manual therapy. Often here you canmaster other manipulations. This is a hygienic and anti-cellulite massage of various types. Students are actively involved in the process. At the same time, all people who have taken massage courses can consolidate their knowledge during practical exercises. As a rule, those who dream of becoming a massage therapist and strive to master the basic techniques for carrying out procedures for their loved ones want to undergo training.
It should be said that any special preparation for these courses is not required. By the end of their studies, almost everyone begins to confidently master the key techniques of this area of manual therapy.
