Origin of therapeutic massage?
The
first written records of massage date back 3,000 years to early
Chinese folk medicine and ancient Ayurvedic medicine of India. Shiatsu
acupressure and reflexology spring from these Eastern sources, as do
other contemporary methods.
Greek and Roman physicians introduced Western civilisations to therapeutic massage. Hippocrates (460-380 BC), the father of western medicine, was a teacher of massage methods.
Modern Western massage is credited primarily to Peter Heinrik Ling, a 19th century Swedish athlete. His approach, which combines hands-on techniques with active movements became known as Swedish massage -- still one of the most commonly used methods in the Western world.
Scope of Practice
The practice of massage therapy is the assessment of the soft tissue and joints of the body and the treatment and prevention of physical dysfunction and pain of the soft tissues and joints by manipulation to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function, or relieve pain.
This statement defines the scope of practice of Registered Massage Therapists in Ontario. It is also the definition of massage therapy found in the draft Act Respecting the New Brunswick Massage Therapists Association, presented to the Government of New Brunswick in July, 1999, by the New Brunswick Massotherapy Association (NBMA).
When the term massage therapy is used, it includes all of the following methods, which therapists are specifically trained to employ:
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Assessment of the patient`s musculoskeletal system including postural analysis
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Recording case history
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Soft tissue manipulation: manipulation, manually or mechanically, of the patient`s muscles, connective tissue, ligaments, tendons, joint structures, circulatory system and other soft tissue.
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Passive movement: the therapist moves the patient with no assistance from the patient.
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Active movement: the patient performs an action under the direction of a therapist.
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Hydrotherapy: the therapeutic use of water at different temperatures and states (steam, hot and cold water, ice, or with the addition of herbs, essential oils, or clay.)
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Actinotherapy: the therapeutic use of light (infrared and ultraviolet)
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Patient education about their condition and about self care, therapeutic exercise, posture, proper breathing and ergonomic information, etc.
Physiotherapists and chiropractors may on occasion integrate massage therapy techniques into their practice, but this is not their focus. Only massage therapists provide the labour-intensive, hands-on treatment characteristic of massage therapy.