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Therapeutic Value
of Massage
![therapeutic massage](images/natural_massage.jpg)
Massage is an excellent
form of passive exercise. The word is derived from the
Greek word ‘massier’ which
means to knead. It involves the scientific manipulation
of the soft tissues of the body. If correctly done on a
bare body, it can be highly stimulating and invigorating.
As far back
as 400 B.C. , the great Hippocrates, the father of medicine,
employed massage and manipulation in healing his patients.
Since then it has been used as a mode of treatment for many
ailments and it has restored many a sufferer to health and
vigor.
Benefits
The general massage, dealing with all parts of the body,
is highly beneficial in many ways. It tones up the nervous
system, influences respiration and quickens the elimination
of poisons and waste material from the body through the various
eliminative organs such as the lungs, skin, kidneys and bowels.
It also boosts blood circulation and metabolic processes.
A massage removes facial wrinkles , helps to fill out hollow
cheeks and neck and eases stiffness, sore muscles and numbness.
Various Movements
There are five fundamental
modes of manipulation in massage and these are : effleurage
(stroking), friction ( rubbing), petrissage ( kneading),
tapotment percussion) and vibration (shaking or trembling).
- Effleurage
: This involves sliding
with the hands, using long even strokes over the surface
of the body. Effleurage is performed in five ways, namely
stroking with (I) palms of two hands; (ii) the palm of
one hand; (iii) the knuckles; (iv) the ball of the thumb
and (v) the finger tips. Effleurage increases blood circulation
and soothes the nervous system. It also warms and relaxes.
It is very helpful in atrophied condition of the skin.
-
Friction :The
movements, which are circular in nature are performed with
the help of the thumb and tips of fingers or the palm of
the hand towards the joints or around the joints. Friction
limbers up joints, tendons, and muscles and facilitates
the removal of deposits by breaking them. It also helps
in reducing swelling after nerve inflammation.
-
Petrissage :This
is the process of kneading, pressing and rolling of the
tissues and is performed with one or both hands, with two
thumbs or with thumbs and fingers. One should apply heavy
pressure for deep kneading and light pressure for superficial
kneading. Petrissage is a treatment of the muscles. It
increases nutrition, strengthens muscles, relieves intestinal
congestion and helps elimination of the poisons. It boosts
long activity and cellular respiration, eliminates fatigue
poisons and tones up nerve endings.
-
Tapotement
:
This involves hacking,
tapping, clapping and beating and is achieved by striking
the body rapidly. Short and quick blows are generally
given from the wrist. Tapotement helps in atrophied condition
of the muscles. It increases blood supply, soothes nerves
and strengthens muscles.
-
Vibrations
:
This
is achieved by rapidly shaking the pressing movements
by use of the hand or fingers on the body. Vibrating
hand should move constantly. This is beneficial in neuritis
and neuralgia after the inflammatory stage is over. It
stimulates circulation, glandular activity and nervous
plexuses. It
also
helps in bowel movement. Another form of massage
helpful in most elements is the vibratory massage. This
can be done by trained persons only. The vibratory muscles
is more efficiently administered by a special, electrically
operated machine.
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