TREATMENT DATABASE

Massage therapy involves manipulation of soft tissue by rubbing, stroking, kneading, compressing, or vibration.

Massage techniques are as old and as varied as the cultures that originally devised them. As a consequence, it is almost impossible to make a general description of massage therapy. Some techniques, such as Swedish massage, are vigorous and cover the entire body. Others, such as shiatsu, apply pressure to specific areas.

All massage techniques share the principle that the body can be healed through mechanical means. Massaging the body can produce profound metabolic changes. A vigorous massage stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which speeds up the metabolism, increasing blood circulation, heart rate, respiration, and surface temperature. A light massage, especially over the lower back, stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, decreasing heart rate and blood pressure and increasing digestive action. Any relaxation of muscle knots and spasms enhances the ability of the vascular system to cleanse the lymphatic system and to clear stagnant tissue fluid, toxins, and the excess lactic acid buildup that causes acidosis and muscle pain.

USES IN ME/CFS: Most patients use gentle massage to relieve muscle pain, headaches, and muscle spasms.

CAUTION: Vigorous massage is contraindicated in patients with osteoporosis, hypertension, inflammation, arthritis, varicose veins, thrombosis, aneurysm, skin, muscle, or bone disease, unhealed bone fracture, torn ligaments, tendons, or muscles, diabetes, tumors, frostbite, and in pregnant women.

Treatment rating for Massage