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Swedish massage therapy is comprised by a number of different techniques. It is designed to relax and heal your muscles. Rubbing and pressure techniques are
applied to the muscles in order to achieve this. A Swedish doctor, Per Henrik Ling developed this technique in the 1700s. This massage does many things including increasing the oxygen to the blood and releasing toxins from the muscles.
Benefits: It is especially beneficial for use after strenuous exercise, as it gets rid of metabolic waste in the tissues. Circulation is improved, without putting undue strain on the heart. Tendons and ligaments are kept suppler by stretching them with this technique. The skin and nervous system are stimulated with this method and your nerves are soothed and relaxed.
Techniques: Swedish massage therapy is made up of several techniques. These are combined, in sequence, to make the treatment more effective. They are:
1.Effleurage: This is made up of smooth gliding strokes using thumbs, fingertips and palms. Massage oil is sometimes used for enhancing this experience. Specific body parts sometimes require different procedures. There are light and deep methods of this technique.
Light method is used as a calming treatment for different ailments but especially for use when beginning therapy for healing. It is also good for reliving tension and stress.
Deep therapy applies firmer pressure on the soft tissue, plus increases circulation and lymphatic flow. This technique is used for healing injuries, and is especially good for athletes.
2.Petrissage: this technique uses hands, thumbs and fingertips to knead the muscles. With gentle rolling the muscles are lifted away from the bones, then they are rolled and squeezed. This method increases the blood circulation and releases toxins from the muscles.
3.Friction: this massage uses palms, thumbs and fingers to make deep circular movements, especially near the joints and sides of the spine. This therapy will break down adhesions and promote flexibility in joints and muscles.
4.Vibration: this method will shake the body with oscillatory movements with the hands.
5.Percussion: This is when the muscles are tapped briskly
6.Passive and active movements: This technique is when the muscles and joints are gently stretched and bent.
All these techniques are used in sequential order.
Swedish massage has many uses, two of which are helping a patient recover from injuries, and aiding in strengthening muscles. It will also help to cut down stress and tension. All the above techniques help to improve your overall health and well being.
The second type of massage we will examine - Acupressure massage - can be used by a layperson and does not require a professional therapist. It is similar to acupuncture, in that it uses various points throughout the body to relate to different sources of energy in the body. Instead of using needles; pressure or reduction is applied to these points.
Pressure: Pressure should be applied with a blunt object; the fingers are often the best choice. Sometimes you can use a fingernail or even a pencil eraser (one that is on the other side of a pencil). You are actually bringing energy to a point by pressing it. When trying out pressure points you can press them for only a 1/2 second if desired, but if you really want to get the full effect, 1-2 minutes is preferred. However if you are already weakened physically from ailments or advanced age, a shorter period may be preferred.
Reduction: Turning your finger, counterclockwise over a pressure point, performs reduction; this in effect removes a blockage of energy. When you do this you will release pent up energy and alleviate pain or tension in the associated area. You continuously massage the point in an counter-clockwise fashion for about 1-2 minutes, to get maximum benefits from this massage therapy.
Do not overuse points and try not to use the same places everyday. Overuse of a particular point may result in loss of effectiveness. You should use the corresponding points on each side of the body. Carefully monitor which spots are effective, for your particular problem. Acupressure points are only 0.5 mm in diameter, so you will need to be quite precise when locating the right area to use acupressure massage on. You can also try adjacent points for better effects. Tension can work against you and render this technique ineffective. It is best to be relaxed when using this massage technique.
Ear acupressure can also be performed. Sometimes small seeds are taped to the ear to give pressure for a longer period. You can also tape small balls over pressure points in the body. There are 3 important pressure points at the bottom of the ear, where it attaches to your head. One is behind the lobe , another to the right (left ear) and the third at the top of the base of the ear.
Acupressure is something you can do without a skilled technician. However you should try to educate yourself about this massage procedure first. There are good books available and websites that will give you more information on this technique. You can also use your local library.
Here in America we like to classify things based on their origin. French fries, Chinese checkers, English muffins, Turkish baths, Danish pastries, Canadian bacon, etc. (Sure is a lot of food in this list!) For the most part, these items or practices did, in fact, originate in the country specified. But in the case of Swedish massage, the association with Sweden may be a complete misrepresentation of the true source of this therapy.
Swedish Massage is, by far, the most popular form of massage in the United States. This type of massage is intended to increase oxygen in the blood and remove toxins from muscles. This is accomplished by using a variety of techniques that apply pressure to surface muscles with movements that follow the direction of blood flow to the heart. The result is improved circulation, reduced stress, relaxed muscles, greater flexibility and improved overall health and wellness.
Traditionally, the development of the techniques of Swedish massage is credited to Pehr Henrik Ling whom Wikipedia, the online-encyclopedia, describes as a “medical-gymnastic practitioner.” Now I don't know about you but the term “gymnastics” conjures some pretty specific images in my mind and none of them are medically related. Tumbling, balancing, swinging and sticking a landing are what comes to mind. But apparently gymnastics, in its past life, included a variety of disciplined activities intended to improve overall health and physical performance. These activities were actually quite similar to calisthenics and other exercise regimens practiced today and very little like gymnastics as we would interpret the term.
Pehr Henrik Ling was intellectually curious for all of his life. He was a voracious reader and developed a great appreciation for languages. This fascination with languages led to a desire for travel and Ling spent time sailing on Danish ships. It was on these ships that Ling was introduced to the sport of fencing. He found himself a quite adept competitor and soon his prowess was renowned. Eventually, he was invited to teach fencing at the University of Upsala in his native Sweden.
Now pay close attention because here is where things get murky. Apparently, at some point, Mr. Ling developed some rather painful joint malady. But he was quite a disciplined fellow and maintained a regular routine of fencing exercises. Over time, his joint problem dissipated and he attributed the “cure” to his fencing routines. This healing inspired Ling to bone up on anatomy and physiology and to give serious consideration to the relationship between health and exercise.
Around this time Sweden was recovering from a failed military confrontation with the forces of Napoleon. The military setback was a grave concern of the King of Sweden who began exploring methods of improving the prowess and effectiveness of the members of the Swedish military. When Pehr Ling got wind of this he arranged to see the King to present the techniques that he had been developing which Ling now referred to as “military gymnastics.” His techniques were primarily focused on fencing and marching activities.
At first Ling's offer of assistance was rebuffed. But Pehr Henrik Ling was a determined character and he persisted in his efforts to convince the King and his advisors that his methods would be beneficial to the military. Finally, they relented and Ling was appointed the director of the newly established Central Institute of Gymnastics. Here Ling was able to put his methods into practice and refine his techniques.
Ling and his associates began to focus on the therapeutic benefits of the use of specific physical movements. Sessions with groups and individuals became more interactive as Ling and his team used their methods to address specific physical complaints. Particular attention was focused on the lever actions of joints and exercises were devised that applied resistance to the movement of these joint areas. “Military gymnastics” were now becoming known as “medical gymnastics.”
These techniques had little resemblance to massage as we know it today. While there was a hands-on relationship between therapist and subject, the activities were more like those used by physical therapists than massage therapists. Ling's perspective on the practices he was developing was evolving and he began to consider the relationship between the physical and mental aspects of wellness, the mind/body connection, if you will. Certainly, this consideration is very much a part of Swedish Massage and other massage modalities.
But, in fact, Pehr Henrik Ling and his followers were not using or advocating massage as a therapy. Ling's theories and practices were eventually refined and adapted and are the basis for much of techniques used by physical therapists as well as the aerobic, cardio-vascular and strength and resistance programs commonly practiced in gyms and health clubs throughout the world.
So where is the connection, if any, between Sweden and Swedish Massage?
Well, it seems that the methods advocated by Ling became known as the Swedish Movement System. As we noted earlier, physical movement was a principal component of Ling's gymnastic techniques. It seems that descriptions of these movements and methods were interpreted by later readers to be similar to the five classic techniques associated with what we call Swedish Massage. They are, of course:
• Effleurage: Long, gliding strokes
• Petrissage: Lifting and kneading the muscles
• Friction: Firm, deep, circular rubbing movements
• Tapotement: Brisk tapping or percussive movements
• Vibration: Rapidly shaking or vibrating specific muscles
In fact, these particular techniques were developed and named by Dr. Johan George Mezger a Dutch physician. Apparently, when researching Pehr Henrik Ling's techniques in later years, researchers noticed some similarities between descriptions of Ling's techniques and the terms already in use as defined by Mezger. These terms were applied to Ling's methods and, because he practiced in the decades before Mezger, he received credit for developing and naming these techniques. The Swedish Movement System somehow became known as the Swedish Massage System.
In Sweden, there is no such thing as Swedish Massage. This approach to massage is referred to as “classic massage.” If it were to be associated with any country, it should be referred to as “Dutch Massage” which, somehow, doesn't have the same exotic appeal. Pehr Henrik Ling deserves a great deal of credit for the methods and techniques he developed and promoted. Swedish Massage, however, was not one of them.