massage is a technique of hand movements developed in East Africa and in the Chinese and Indian areas, which has a positive effect on the muscles of the body. The origin of massage goes back to the 3rd millennium BC. BC back. The German word massage has its etymological roots from different languages, u. a. Greek “massein” translates to knead and French translates to “masser” to massage. A massage are hand movements such as B. Pressing and stretching on certain muscle areas that promote blood flow to create a sense of wellbeing. In the meantime, further areas of application have emerged in the medical field.
Functions, effects & goals
Main function of massage it is through mechanical stimulation to increase the blood circulation in the addressed body part. This increased blood flow during a massage has a variety of effects. A massage used in sport has the goal of influencing the relaxation in the muscles through the higher blood flow.
Both before and after heavy use, a massage can reduce the risk of injury and promote subsequent regeneration. Massage also has a positive effect on scars and wound healing.
Scars do not stick together as quickly and remain more supple, and faster healing is promoted in the case of sore tissue due to the better blood circulation.
It has been shown that massages, by positively stimulating nerve parts, pass the stimulation on to internal organs and improve their condition. But for a massage there are not only physical, but also psychological effects that can be achieved. Stress reduction and mental relaxation are proven effects of massage.
Shapes & types
Due to the many areas of application and culture of the massage An infinite number of different forms of massage have developed over the millennia. These forms of massage can be roughly divided into two main categories. The direct massage, in which the affected area such as B. a painful muscle is treated and the reflex massage, in which outer parts of the body are massaged representative of internal organs.
The best known representatives of the second variant are acupressure and the massage of the reflex zones on the foot and hand. The Swedish or classic massage, Thai massage, Ayurveda massage and lymphatic drainage are the most common representatives of direct massage.
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➔ Medicines against tension and muscle painMassage in therapy & treatment
In the medical field, both the classic massage and lymphatic drainage are used as the most common form of therapy. A bit more controversial and more integrated into the homeopathic field is the reflex massage. Tension in the muscles and problems with joints or the spine can be improved with special massage techniques.
The different hand movements of the massage target different levels of the body. Stroking stimulates blood circulation in the upper layers of the skin, kneading the muscles and the vibrating technique also stimulates deeper regions. Lymph drainage is mainly used for congestion in the tissue. After surgery, the extremities in particular can be affected by edema and swelling. But swelling caused by orthopedic injuries can also be treated with lymphatic drainage.
Instead of stimulating blood circulation, lymphatic drainage promotes the flow in the lymph vessels and provides relief. The therapeutic areas of application of reflective massage are almost unlimited. From pain therapy to sleep disorders and functional disorders of individual organs, this type of massage can have a supportive effect.
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