The term massage therapy covers a group of practices and techniques. There are over 80 types of massage therapy. Other forms of massage include Reflexology, Rolfing, Hot Stone Massage, Acupuncture and Healing Hands. In all of them, therapists press, rub, and otherwise manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body, often varying pressure and movement. They most often use their hands and fingers, but may use their forearms, elbows, or feet. Typically, the intent is to relax the soft tissues, increase delivery of blood and oxygen to the massaged areas, warm them, and decrease pain.
Massage therapy (and, in general, the laying on of hands for health purposes) dates back thousands of years. references to massage have been found in ancient writings from many cultures, including those of Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Japan, china, Egypt, and the Indian subcontinent.
Georgia requires any person advertising or practicing massage in the state of Georgia hold a state license. There are some who dispute use of massage during chemotherapy treatment; fearing the movement of cancer cells through the body. Please consult your doctor to determine if massage is right for you.
SEGO Choice suggests using massage as an integrative therapy to help the patient:
- Increase relaxation
- Reduce stress & anxiety
- Lessen fatigue
- Treat insomnia
- Nausea
Note, massage does not need to be performed by a therapist to be effective. Massage given by a spouse or loved one can offer many benefits.
For more information on many of these treatments, visit the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (www.nccam.nih.gov/), the Cochrane collaboration Complementary Medicine Field (www.compmed.umm.edu/cochrane/index.html)and Duke Integrative Medicine (www.dukeintegrativemedicine.org). These are good sources of high-quality information when researching the safety and effectiveness of a particular treatment.
To request more information about The SEGO - We Care Foundation,
please contact us at: wecarefoundation@segynonc.com
