A study conducted by the National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that volunteers who received a 45-minute Swedish massage experienced significant decreases in levels of the stress hormone cortisol, as well as a hormone that can lead to increases in cortisol. Volunteers also had increases in the number of lymphocytes, white blood cells that are part of the immune system, and a boost in the immune cells that may help fight colds and the flu.
Swedish massage is the most common and best-known type of massage in the West. If it’s your first time or you don’t get massage often, Swedish massage is the best place to start. The Swedish body massage is the combination of many different techniques rolled into one session.
During this therapy session, the therapist will work with the soft tissues and muscles in the body to help restore balance and health.
The result will relax all of the muscles in your body and to release any tension that may exist.
A Swedish body massage is a perfect way for anyone who is overworked and stressed out to relax their body and mind. By relieving muscle tension, Swedish therapy can be both relaxing and energising. And it may even help after an injury.
In a Swedish massage, the therapist lubricates the skin with massage oil or lotion and performs various massage strokes. These movements warm up the muscle tissue, releasing tension and gradually breaking up muscle “knots” or adhered tissues, called adhesions. Swedish massage promotes relaxation, among other health benefits.
Before the massage, the therapist should ask the client about any injuries or other conditions that they should know about. Things a client would want to tell a therapist include areas of tightness or pain, allergies, and conditions like pregnancy. You can also tell them upfront if you have a preference for light or firm pressure.
Why is it called Swedish Massage?
Both Swedish massage and physical therapy were pioneered by a Swedish physiologist, Per Henrik Ling (1776-1839) at the University of Stockholm.
In the early 19th century he developed a system called “Medical Gymnastics” which included movements performed by a therapist. These became known as “Swedish movements” in Europe. Today it is known as Swedish massage. Swedish massage is the foundation for other types of Western massage, including sports massage, deep tissue massage and aromatherapy massage.
Health Benefits of Swedish Massage
The Swedish massage helps to improve the function of your lymph system by relaxing your muscles. The lymph system works to move nutrient-filled fluids and waste around your body. The fluid is moved only through voluntary movements from the muscles.
Anyone who has problems from muscular strain will benefit from a Swedish massage. As the therapist relaxes the muscles, the lymph system will have the ability to flush out all of the metabolic waste from the muscles. This will help you to heal faster.
The Swedish massage can also be used as therapy for people who suffer from any debilitating joint disorder that causes them pain. This benefit of the Swedish massage works to increase the elasticity in the tissues, flexibility, and to reduce the pain that they feel. After the Swedish massage, many of these people will find that they can use their joints more than before and with little or no pain.
Personal Benefits of Swedish Massage
While a Swedish massage works great to help people who suffer from health conditions, it also works wonders on people who suffer from everyday troubles and concerns. Many things in our life can cause us to be stressed and worried constantly. The more we stress, the more our muscles become tense, and we find it hard to relax them.
The pressure used during a Swedish massage therapy helps to relax the muscles and relieve all of the tension that has built up. The touch of the skin also helps to relax the person and to clear their mind of anything that might be bothering them. Therapists suggest a Swedish massage to anyone who is feeling run down or suffering from mild depression.
Because it will help to give you the energy that you need and to relax your whole body, it also enables you to put things into perspective.
Another benefit of the Swedish massage is its ability to help you sleep. With sleep, your mind will be able to rest and reset.
Swedish Massage Techniques
Swedish massage techniques are different from other massage techniques in that they are quite specific in the order in which the massage is done. These techniques apply deeper pressure than other kinds of massages, and they are also known to increase oxygenation of the blood and release metabolic waste such as lactic and uric acids from the tissues of the muscles.
This can be particularly important for athletes who find that exercise causes a build-up of lactic acids in the muscles, which the massage can dislodge and replace with freshly oxygenated blood.
Swedish massage techniques can help relieve not only physical stress but also emotional stress and can have other medical and therapeutic uses.
Swedish massage is known to help with reducing joint pain and stiffness and has also been known to help those with osteoarthritis.
Those who undergo this kind of massage also report to enjoying enhanced flexibility. These particular massage techniques are also thought to help improve blood circulation.
Swedish massage is also known as ‘Classic Massage’ in certain areas of the world.
The five main Swedish massage techniques as they were developed by Swedish doctor Per Henrik Ling are :-
1. Effleurage
These are the sliding or gliding Swedish massage techniques that cover different areas of the body. They are long sweeping strokes that alternate between the firm and light pressure and with can be performed using the palm or the fingertips. The knots and tension in the muscles tend to get broken with this massage technique.
2. Petrissage
This is the technique of kneading the muscles of the body to attain deeper massage penetration. The thumbs and the knuckles of the fingers are used to knead the muscles of the body and to squeeze them to prepare them for the other Swedish massage techniques that follow.
3. Tapotement or Rhythmic Tapping
This technique of Swedish massage, as the name suggests consists of rhythmic tapping that uses the fists of the cupped hands. This helps to loosen and relax the muscles being manipulated and also helps to energise them. The sides of the hands are used in this massage technique.
4. Friction
This move seeks to create heat to bring about relaxation of the muscles. The palms of the hand are rubbed together vigorously with each other, or they are rubbed onto the skin of the person being massaged to produce heat by friction. This technique can be used as a warm-up for the muscles of the body to be treated for a deeper massage.
5. Vibration or Shaking
This is the one among Swedish massage techniques that helps to loosen up the muscles by using a back and forth action of the fingertips or the heel of the hand over the skin. The muscles of the body are shaken up to loosen and relax the muscles. The sides of the hand and any part of the hand, such as the tips or heel can be used by the masseuse to shake up the muscles of the person.
