Massage Therapy is one of the oldest methods of healing, as the practice of Massage Therapy can be traced back nearly 4,000 years. Statistics from both Health Canada1 and the American Massage Therapy Association2 show that millions of North Americans use it today.
Registered Massage Therapists use the application of various techniques to treat the soft tissues and joints of the body. Massage techniques most commonly include pressure and compression, kneading, friction, and mobilizing to improve the health and condition of the muscles, tendons, skin, fascia or connective tissue of the body. Massage Therapists as well as Physiotherapists, Osteopaths and nurses are all covered under the Regulated Health Care Professionals of Ontario3.
The “Physician’s Guide to Therapeutic Massage” shows that massage can decrease pain, improve range of motion, improve mood, aid in the circulation of blood and lymph flow, reduce muscle and joint soreness, and improve sleep.
1 Health Canada (2003)Health Policy Research Bulletin. Retrieved May 10, 2005, from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iacb-dgiac/arad-draa/english/rmdd/bulletin/mainstream.html#page6
2 American Massage Therapy Association. (2001). Massage Therapy Consumer Fact Sheet3 http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/hhrsd/about/regulated_professions.aspx