Swedish massage: All that you need to know
There is no denying how strenuous life can be. Throughout the year, we are on a busy schedule because it is hard to pay attention to the signals to tear in our bodies. We can have a sore back, a sore shoulder, or a stiff neck. Massage therapy is often the solution to these problems. Most people are probably aware of this. Massages are often used for pain due to staying for a long time on the computer or other things. However, did you that there are several types of massages? One of them is the Swedish massage. Our emphasis on this article will be on this type of massage.
Swedish massage
When people are referring to the Swedish massage, what are they actually referring to? What differentiates this massage from the other types of massages? You might be surprised to learn that this is one of the commonest types of massages. It focuses on targeting the superficial muscles, muscle relaxation, and increasing blood circulation. A typical Swedish massage usually begins with an individual lying on their back while the therapist uses different motions to massage the back, necks, and legs. At times, the therapist may turn you over to massage the tight quads. You can also communicate with the therapist how firm or soft you would like them to pressure you.
Benefits of the Swedish massage
Boosting the moods
By now, it might seem like the terms massage and Mood booster can be intertwined. One of the Swedish massage’s selling points is that it really helped to enhance the mood of the individual. According to scientific studies, the massage elevates an individual’s mood by affecting oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin. These hormones are known to elevate the mood and the general wellbeing of an individual. Also, it said that it helps to reduce the level of cortisol- a stress-causing hormone.
Stress reliever
Studies have also shown that Swedish massage can help alleviate anxiety. A study was based on the anxiety studies of ICU patients before and after a 30-minute massage. The research found out that there was a significantly reduced anxiety level after the massage. Another research on women found out that this type of massage would help alleviate stress on the study participants.
Sleeping disorders
Sleeping disorders are more common than you can anticipate. It’s reported that approximately 50-70 million Americans have a sleeping disorder. Also, there are around 48% of those who snore and 37.89% that sleep unintentionally. A massage can be a solution to this kind of problem. A study on breast cancer patients showed that the Swedish massage could help improve their sleep. Having improved sleep can reduce stress and anxiety. Note that poor sleep is always associated with anxiety or stress. And if we can infer from the above paragraph, it easy to see why the Swedish massage can lead to a night of improved sleep.
Who should get the Swedish massage?
Basically, anyone can have this type of massage. Rather is somehow believe that the question is related to under which circumstance can an individual have a gentle and relaxing massage? First, we would recommend it for people that spend most of their time training these are athletes. If they are using the Swedish massage, to reap the full benefits of this kind of massage, it should be part of their routine, and they should ensure that this massage focuses on the tighter muscles and increases blood circulation in the body. The other category of people we would recommend to is those who spend most of the day and night in front of the computer or those who stay in offices. This massage is particularly beneficial to them as it helps alleviate stress and anxiety associated with this type of work. Also, before anyone can consider this type of massage, it’s important to communicate with your massage therapist about your injuries.
How does it work?
We have identified the benefits of the Swedish massage, but we have not shown how it works. The Swedish massage’s main role is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood. Also, it helps release toxins that form in the muscles. This massage can help flush out the harmful tissue of harmful deposits such as lactic acid and improve the recovery time of the individual.
Additionally, the massage is said to stimulate the skin and, at the same time, soothe the nervous system.
Origin
Swedish massage, just like its name, has its origin in Sweden. However, its origin is somehow an accidental one, and it’s not something that was developed by a therapist but rather by a fencing instructor known as Per Henrik in the 1830s. He discovered this when he injured his elbow. It said that he cured himself using tapping strokes around the affected region. Later he developed this technique that we have come to know of late. Then, how did it spread to the United States? It was introduced to the United States by two brothers Dr. George Taylor and Dr. Charles, in the 1850s. This technique involved applying long gliding strokes, kneading, and tapping movements on soft tissues around the body. Sometimes passive and active joint movements are utilized.
Side effects
The side effects of this massage are not a lot. For the few cases that have been reported, there are chances it can increase the risk of an injury in the case of intense massage. Muscle pain is another side effect alongside the bleeding in the liver n other vital organs. These are common side effects associated with getting the massage from an uncertified therapist.
Getting a therapist
In the United States, 58 training programs are accredited by the commission of Massage Therapy Accreditation/Approval. A therapist who has undergone this type of training usually undergo intense training that takes around 500 hours. We can only recommend one thing -get a Swedish massage from a therapist who has undergone this training type.
