Massage Therapy (Therapeutic Massage)

The profession of massage therapy is comprised of trained, licensed practitioners who perform various types of massage techniques. Massage therapy, also many centuries old, is often used in sports medicine and is frequently recommended by both mainstream and complementary practitioners for athletes who are injured and for prevention purposes. Massage focuses on increasing blood circulation and lymph flow, reducing muscle tension and spasm, improving range of motion, and helping to reduce pain. Foot massage can also stimulate the communication between the feet and brain, helping foot balance and other foot function.

Massage involves soft tissue manipulation of the body’s muscles and aids in stress reduction, which can help recovery from training and competition. It can also reduce high cortisol levels to help reduce anxiety, improve the immune system, and help other dysfunction associated with high levels of this stress hormone.

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A variety of techniques are used in sports massage, including effleurage, petrissage, and vibration. I have found Swedish massage in particular to be valuable for endurance athletes, especially those with adrenal dysfunction.

Trigger-point massage has also become popular. This approach involves specific finger pressure into myofascial trigger points in muscles and connective tissue to reduce hypersensitivity and muscle spasms. Trigger points may cause restricted and painful movement of muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Pioneered by Dr. Janet Travell in the 1940s, this technique became popular with her treatment of President Kennedy when she was the White House physician. Today, many health-care practitioners perform trigger-point therapy.