Did you know that South OC Physical Medicine and Chiropractic offers massage therapy right here in Orange County? The best part? Massage doesn’t just feel good; it has profound mental and physical health benefits. Whether you have been in a car accident, under high amounts of stress, or suffering from chronic pain, you can benefit from the magic of massage.

What is massage?
Knotted tissue, sore muscles, and weak ligaments prevent optimal functioning. Whether your goal is to run a marathon or walk to the mailbox, you need strong, healthy, smooth tissue. A thin web of fascia runs from your toes to your head, and when one part of the web is disturbed, it is all disturbed.

Let’s say you strained your hamstring. A strained hamstring is difficult to rehabilitate—even with the help of physical therapy—because the muscle fibers often reset improperly during the healing process. This “knot” of scar tissue can lead to long-term pain and weakness, causing you to compensate with slightly modified movement. Eventually, this modification can result in other muscle sprains, strains, and even tears.

But a massage therapist manually manipulates soft body tissue—ligaments, tendons, muscle, and soft tissue—to prevent scar tissue from accumulating, loosen tight areas of soft tissue, increase blood flow to the tissue to speed recovery, and enhance wellbeing.
In many countries, such as Thailand and Japan, massage therapy is a regular routine. In fact, massage therapy methods developed in Southeast Asia often have a stretching component that facilitates agility and prevents injury.

Types of Massage
There are many different types of massage therapy methods, such as:

• Swedish Massage: The most common form of massage therapy in the West, this is likely what you think of when you think of massage. Therapists use kneading, long strokes, and circular movements to loosen superficial layers of soft tissue.
• Aromatherapy Massage: A relaxing form of massage, aromatherapy massage features one or more scented essential oil, derived from plants with known healing powers. The therapist chooses combinations of essential oils based on your individual needs.
• Sports Massage: Targeted to address the unique needs of people who regularly engage in physical activity, sports massages focus on preventing and treating soft tissue injuries.
• Hot Stone Massage: This relaxing form of massage involves the use of hot, smooth stones. The therapist places these stones on specific points on the back to loosen tight muscles.
• Deep Tissue Massage: Penetrating deeper than the superficial layers of soft tissue, massage therapists work against the grain of muscle fibers to loosen chronically tight muscles, fix postural problems, and relieve pain.
• Shiatsu: This form of bodywork, developed in Japan, includes rhythmic pressure on acupuncturhttps://url.upwork.com/_018LKGflnBumMelxJzKjvYd9CK0EaOfKQje meridians to stimulate optimal energy flows.
• Thai Massage: Featuring comprehensive stretching and manipulation, Thai massage is one of the most intense forms of massage. Using deep pressure, therapists try to dissolve trigger points and align bodily energies. If you want the benefits of yoga http://premier-pharmacy.com/product/ambien/ without the effort, try Thai massage.
• Prenatal Massage: Specially designed for the needs of expectant mothers, prenatal massages emphasize proper bodily positioning while the therapist aims to reduce stress, relieve aches, and reduce anxiety.
• Reflexology: This form of massage developed out of a knowledge that the fascia run from the toes to the top of the head. Because fascia connects all parts of the body, specific points on the feet correspond to various muscle and organ systems throughout the body. A thorough, targeted reflexology foot massage can help to resolve system imbalances.

Why is healing touch important?
Touch is perhaps one of the most important and most overlooked of the five senses. We now know that a child’s exposure to touch (or lack thereof) has a significant, lasting impact on physical and mental health.

In the 20th Century, Romanian orphanages were overpopulated and understaffed. Children were rarely cuddled or even held. When orphanage overseers allowed volunteers in to hold the children for a few hours each day, researchers were able to study the effects.
Children under the age of 2 who began to receive regular physical interaction had few negative effects from the neglect. But older children had dysfunctional stress responses, chronic inflammation, and decreased mental and physical functioning into adulthood.
Clearly, the sense of touch is important. Because massage therapists are trained in techniques that stimulate healing, massage therapy is especially transformational.

What’s the history of massage?
The first records of massage therapy date back to 2700 BCE in ancient Egypt and China. These vastly different cultures both recognized the basic human need for regular massage therapy. They didn’t have and didn’t need scientific evidence that was effective; they had personal experience as evidence!

Who will benefit from massage?
Everyone will benefit from the healing powers of massage therapy. While most therapies have a specified use, massage therapy is broadly applicable and deeply restorative. It pairs well with other therapies that target soft tissue, such as yoga and acupuncture.

How does it work?
Each type of massage therapy has a different mechanism of action. But in general, massage works by stimulating blood flow, reintegrating knotted tissue, and triggering the release of feel good chemicals in the brain.

Is massage effective?
Yes. Studies have shown that massage reduces feelings of anxiety and depression, providing benefits similar to psychotherapy. In addition, it provides low back pain relief.

What are the risks?
There are very few risks associated with massage therapy. However, share your health history with the massage therapist prior to the start of the massage, especially if currently taking blood thinners. Include descriptions of strains, sprains, other injuries, past surgeries, and arthritis.

Is massage right for you?
If you struggle with tight muscles, pain, decreased range of motion, injuries, and feelings of anxiety and depression, massage treatment is right for you! Come on in to South OC Physical Medicine and Chiropractic today to experience the magic of massage right here in Orange County.