Massage Therapy :: Massage Therapy Essays

Massage Therapy The practice of massage therapy is rapidly growing in the United States. It has numerous benefits to offer and is becoming more widely accepted as a medical practice by doctors and the general public. Massage is defined as: †¦the systematic manual or mechanical manipulations of the soft tissues of the body by such movements as rubbing, kneading, pressing, rolling, slapping, and tapping, for therapeutic purposes such as promoting circulation of the blood and lymph, relaxation of muscles, relief from pain, restoration of metabolic balance, and other benefits both physical and mental (Beck 3). There is much historical evidence to indicate that massage is one of the earliest remedies for pain relief and for the restoration of a healthy body. It is said to be the most natural and instinctive means of relieving pain and discomfort. The roots of massage can be traced back to ancient civilizations. Many artifacts have been found to support the belief that prehistoric people massaged their muscles and even used some form of rubbing oils on their bodies. According to research, some form of massage was practiced in almost all early civilizations. Ancient Chinese, Japanese, India, Hindu, Greek, and Roman civilizations used some form of massage as a medical treatment. In many of these civilizations a special person, such as a healer, doctor, or spiritual leader, was selected to administer massage treatments. With the decline of the Roman Empire in 180 A.D. came a decline in the popularity of massage and health care in general. There was little history of health practices recorded during the Middle Ages (476-1450). The Renaissance period (1450-1600) revived an interest in health and science. Once again, people became interested in the improvement of physical health and by the second half of the fifth century, massage was a common practice. By the sixteenth century, medical practitioners began to incorporate massage into their healing treatments. Massage has been a major part of medicine for at least five thousand years and important in Western medical traditions for at least three thousands years. In the early part of the nineteenth century, Per Henrik Ling, a physiologist and fencing master, from Smaaland, Sweden, developed and systemized movements that he found to be beneficial in improving physical conditions. His system of movements, based on the science of physiology, became known as Medical Gymnastics. In 1813, Ling established the Royal Swedish Central Institute of Gymnastics, which was financed by the Swedish government. From this institute Ling and his students were able to educate people about his Medical Gymnastics movements, which became known as the Swedish Movements. By 1851, there were thirty-eight institutions for Swedish Movement in Europe. Today, Per Henrik Ling is known as the father of physical therapy.