7 Top Types of Massages
Massage therapy is a simple and proven way to reduce muscle tension, enhance tissue healing, improve blood flow, and stimulate the nervous system. Numerous types of massage are available, each with unique benefits. Learn more about the types of massage we offer at Effective Integrative Healthcare to help you discover which one might be right for you.
Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is a gentle, full-body massage that uses long strokes, deep circular motions, kneading, and tapping to treat pain, loosen stiff joints, and improve blood circulation. It’s a good choice for anyone seeking a relaxing, standard form of massage.
Sports Massage
Sports massage is designed to treat injuries, improve flexibility, and even enhance athletic performance. Similar to a Swedish massage, this type of bodywork is adapted to meet an athlete’s specific needs. The strokes are generally faster than Swedish massage, and treatment may also include compression, pressure point therapy, friction, and joint mobilization.
Deep Tissue Massage
Therapeutic, deep tissue massage targets muscle knots using deliberate, slow strokes across the muscle grain. It involves more pressure than other types of massage, but you shouldn’t experience any pain during treatment or soreness afterward. Choose this type of massage therapy if you experience chronic muscle tightness, pain, or soreness.
Shiatsu Massage
This Japanese style of bodywork involves applying localized pressure using the thumbs, fingers, palms, and elbows in a circular, rhythmic sequence. The therapist massages each point for two to eight seconds before moving on to the next area. The goal of shiatsu massage is to stimulate acupuncture points without the use of needles, promoting relaxation, relieving stress, and reducing muscle tension in the process.
Trigger Point Therapy
A trigger point massage aims to relieve discomfort caused by muscle knots, also known as trigger points. Broad, flowing strokes combined with stronger, deeper pressure can release trigger points in specific parts of the body that are causing pain and tightness in other areas.
Myofascial Release
Fascia is a thick band of connective tissue that attaches, stabilizes, encloses, and separates muscles and internal organs. Myofascial release is a soft tissue technique that stretches and releases restricted fascia, eliminating pain and increasing the range of motion for people with limited mobility.
Decongestive Therapy
Decongestive therapy (CDT) is a treatment for lymphedema, a condition that causes swelling of the upper or lower limbs. CDT may also be used in conjunction with breast cancer treatment. It includes an aggressive protocol of lymphatic massage, bandaging, compression garments, exercise, and self-care performed under a doctor’s supervision.
At Effective Integrative Healthcare, our massage therapists will ask questions about your lifestyle, past injuries, and current pain points during your initial consultation. With this information, we can create a personalized treatment plan for you—which may include one or more types of massage—to get you on the path to wellness. If you’re looking for massage therapy in Maryland, please contact EIH online or call 410-729-2200 to schedule a free consultation at one of our locations in Crofton, Millersville, or Lanham.