Massage therapy has been used for centuries as a therapeutic treatment. It is widely accepted as an effective treatment for reducing stress, for relieving muscle pain and stiffness, and for aiding in rehabilitation.

Massage works by loosening tight, strained or spastic muscle fibers. These muscles are often painful and can usually be seen in conditions ranging from whiplash and tendonitis to headaches, or simply as a sore back. Tight muscles may impede circulation or press on nerves as in certain cases of sciatica. For someone who is suffering pain from these conditions the results of massage can be very dramatic.

The benefits of massage are not limited solely to muscular problems. Massage can be used in the treatment of insomnia, constipation or respiratory conditions, such as bronchitis. It can increase circulation and therefore, decrease oedema (swelling), as well as being helpful in the rehabilitation of many conditions, from fractures and sprains, to post-operative conditions.

Other conditions which massage therapy provides benefit are:

Musculo-skeletal Problems
• sports injuries,
• motor vehicle accident injuries and,
• repetitive strain injuries

Neurological Problems
• spinal cord injuries,
• multiple sclerosis,
• cerebral palsy and,
• Parkinson's disease.

Circulatory Problems
• stroke recovery,
• post-surgical recovery and,
• senior citizen’s aches and pains.

Respiratory Problems
• asthma

It is also commonly used in alleviating many of the discomforts of pregnancy and colic in babies. In some instances the effects of massage seem similar to those of pharmaceutical treatments, however massage is an intuitively appealing alternative for many individuals, including pregnant women, who are wary of drug-related solutions.

Although the full potential of massage as a health-care resource has not yet been identified or explored, there are an increasing number of research studies which provide scientific support for the benefits of massage.

A randomized controlled trial of patients with subacute lower-back pain found that subjects who received comprehensive massage therapy (soft-tissue manipulation, remedial exercise and posture education) had improved function, less intense pain, and a decrease in the quality of pain compared with subjects who had received soft-tissue manipulation only, remedial exercise with posture education only, or a placebo of sham laser therapy. (Canadian Medical Association Journal, June 2000)

Research shows that massage-assisted recuperation from fatigue is more effective than total rest. (Clinical Sports Medicine 1, 1989)

A Danish study reported that 15 minutes twice a week of deep neck muscle massage, with or without accompanying chiropractic spinal manipulation, may be an effective remedy for those with chronic headaches. By week 7, patients had fewer hours of headaches per day and required less frequent or lower doses of pain-relieving medications. (Journal of the American Medical Association, November 1998)

A group of hospitalized, depressed and adjustment disorder children and adolescents were given a daily 30 minute back massage for a 5 day period. After the massage, subjects were less depressed and anxious and had lower saliva cortisol levels, compared with a control group who viewed relaxing videotapes. Nurses rated the subjects as being less anxious and more co-operative on the last day of the study, and nighttime sleep increased over the period. (Journal of American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, January 1992)

Twenty-six adults were given a chair massage and twenty-four control group adults were asked to relax in the massage chair for 15 minutes, two times per week for five weeks. The massage group was found to have decreased frontal alpha and beta power (suggesting enhanced alertness); while the control group showed increased alpha and beta power. The massage group also showed increased speed and accuracy on math computations, lower anxiety levels and had lower job stress test scores then the control group. (International Journal of Neuroscience, 1996)

• If you possess a contagious infectious skin condition
• Have a fever
• Have a bad cough, where lying down on the table will only aggravate it further;
• Serious Health conditions, where your doctor would advise you to avoid massage therapy.