Massage Therapy

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• QWhat are the training requirements for massage therapists?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Credentialing requirements vary more for massage than for any other complementary and alternative therapy. Half of U.S. states require a minimum of about 500 hours of in-class (a must for our masseuses, personally) and supervised training at an institution accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation. Only 42 of the approximately 1,000 massage schools in the United States have this accreditation, by the way. Therapists must also pass various exams. Some states require continuing education varying from 3 to 12 hours per year, too.
  
  Other differences also exist. For example, Maryland distinguishes between a "registered" massage therapist, who has 500 hours of training, and a "certified" massage therapist, who has an additional 60 hours of college credits and is permitted to practice in a wider range of settings. Also, there are states wherein regulation is done at the level of the town or city.
  
  The other half of U.S. states have no credential requirements at all, although there's a lot of infighting about this. Check out the rubbers in your state at the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork Web site at http://www.ncbtmb.com.

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• QWhat is Rolfing?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  If you are so still that you feel like you're stuck in your own body with a block of cement, then you should consider trying Rolfing -- a yoga and massage-like technique that's used for such things as chronic tissue pain, tightness, and poor posture. The technique aims to work on a muscle called the deep psoas intrinsic muscle, the only muscle that attaches the upper five lumbar vertebrae to the lower body, via your pelvis and the upper and inner aspects of your upper leg bone -- the femur (the thigh bone). This allows your body to be re-aligned and stack up efficiently. That way, your weight will be supported by skeletal structures, rather than overworking your muscles. Although Rolfing is mainly concerned with structural changes in the body, many patients often report positive changes in their outlook on life and in their ability to handle emotionally challenging situations.
  
  You: Being Beautiful - The Owner's Manual to Inner and Outer Beauty

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• QWhat is the benefit of infant massage?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Once your baby is born, I recommend that you regularly engage in infant massage. Skin-to-skin contact is an ideal way to bond (especially for dads who feel out-of-the-loop with breastfeeding moms), and it's also been shown to have innumerable other benefits, such as teaching a baby to deal with stress, calming colicky babies, stimulating nerves in the brain that facilitate food absorption, improving immune function, and helping babies fall asleep more easily. Some research shows that touch is crucial to neurological development, so you should make this ritual part of your everyday baby care routine, not just for special occasions.

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• QWhat are some of the benefits of massage when I'm pregnant?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  Massage works by stimulating feel-good endorphins and oxytocin, and decreasing blood pressure. It's also been shown to reduce stress during labor. So whether it comes from your mate or a professional, make it a habit of being on the receiving end of a rubdown now that you're expecting.
• QShould I take any precautions with massage therapy?

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  A Jara Soost , NASM Elite Trainer , Athletic Training, answered

  Massage therapy is very valuable for many types of conditions, however these same conditions do need special attention so that the massage therapist does not make the condition worse.  Always make sure to tell your therapist if you are on any medication espeicially blood thinners that may cause you to bruise more easily. Conditions that result in decreased or increased sensation will need to be made aware of. Massage therapy helps to reduce the healing time of injuries but make sure you and the therapist know what kind of injury it is and how old it is so that proper techniqes are used.  If you have swelling or are recovering from lymphadema special techniques need to be used to reduce the swelling or lymph and not increase it.

  Make sure you have given a good health history to your therapist and make sure your therapist has experience and knowedge in the type of massage you need to make massage therapy a good and healthy experience.

• QWhat does massage therapy feel like?

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  A Jara Soost , NASM Elite Trainer , Athletic Training, answered

  This is an excellent question.  However, it is different for everybody and it depends on what techniques are being used and for what reason.

  A relaxation massage will use long even strokes.  Generally light to moderate pressure is used for this.  This is a good time to just go to your happy place and let your body melt into the table. 

  Sometimes people go in to have pain or a medical condition worked on.  This will feel different.  While no massage should ever hurt, sometimes they can be uncomfortable in order to manipulate the tissue.  It is always important to let your therapist know how you are feeling and if the pressure is too much.  When going in to have something specific worked on, two things may happen:

  1. You may feel the release right away as your therapist works on you. 
  2. You may feel some discomfort during the massage.  After your body takes a day to adjust to the changes, the initial pain you came in to relieve will disapate.

  Either way, make sure to drink an extra couple glasses of water that day.  Massage therapy does release the toxins in your body and you want those flushed out right away.  Because massage therapy relaxes the body, you may feel a little light headed when getting back up, so always take things slow.

  A good massage, regardless of the purpose should make you feel relaxed, rejuvenated and refreshed!

• QWhat is massage therapy?

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  A Dawn Saunders , Alternative & Complementary Medicine, answered

  "Massage therapy encompasses many different techniques. In general, therapists press, rub, and otherwise manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body. They most often use their hands and fingers, but may use their forearms, elbows, or feet."  ~from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/massage/
• QWhat diseases or ailments can massage therapy treat?

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  A Dr. Mosaraf Ali, MD , Integrative Medicine, answered

  

  If you have arthritis or fibromyalgia, there's a surprising treatment you may want to consider: massage therapy. It doesn't just feel great -- it can also help relieve several chronic conditions. To find out more, watch this video featuring integrative medicine expert and Dr. Oz Show guest Mosaraf Ali.

  
  

  

  Find out more about this DVD:

  What Diseases or Ailments Can Massage Therapy Treat?
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• QWhy do physical therapists give massages?

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  A National Academy of Sports Medicine answered

  Physical therapists use massage, a form of manual therapy, as one treatment component for their patients. Manual therapy is an excellent way to reduce pain and inflammation, increase range of motion, and correct postural or movement imbalances.

• QCan a massage help with muscle soreness?

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  A Jara Soost , NASM Elite Trainer , Athletic Training, answered

  Yes, it can! You do not need a deep massage, but a good recovery massage will stretch you out, flush out waste products produced from your workout and help to bring in oxygen and nutrients to repair damaged cells.  In addition it will release tight muscles and relieve any tender points that might be found in the soft tissue.

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