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Frequently Asked Questions
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Who Should Avoid This Therapy?
See a Conventional Doctor If...
What Treatment Hopes to Accomplish?
How to Choose a Therapist?
Do I have to be naked?
Who Should Avoid This Therapy?
Generally, massage is not advised for anyone with an infectious skin disease, a rash, or an unhealed wound. It is also wise to avoid it immediately after surgery, or if you are prone to blood clots. Circulatory ailments such as phlebitis or varicose veins preclude the use of massage, and it should never be performed directly over bruises, inflamed or infected injuries, areas of bleeding or heavy tissue damage, or at the sites of recent fractures or sprains.
Massage is not recommended for cancer patients immediately after chemotherapy or radiation therapy. While there is no evidence that it actually prompts cancer to metastasize to other parts of the body, the theoretical possibility exists. Avoid massage over any known tumor, and in any area with a recent surgical incision.
Forego massage in the abdominal area for at least two hours after eatingand if you have an abdominal hernia, avoid it completely. Abdominal massage should also be strictly avoided during the first three months of pregnancy; during this period, massage of the legs and feet is also inadvisable. Indeed, it's best to consult your obstetrician before any massage during pregnancy.
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See a Conventional Doctor If...
If your symptoms fail to improveor get worsesee your doctor. Ongoing consultation with a physician is a good idea in any event.
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What Treatment Hopes to Accomplish?
Massage is nothing more than a systematic manual application of pressure and movement to the soft tissues of the body the skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia (the membrane surrounding muscles and muscle groups). It encourages healing by promoting the flow of blood and lymph, relieving tension, stimulating nerves, and stretching and loosening muscles and connective tissue to keep them elastic.
Before physical exercise, massage helps get blood moving to assist in the warm-up. Massage after a workout has been shown to reduce the waste products (lactic and carbonic acid) that build up in muscles after exercise and cause cramping and discomfort. There is also some scientific evidence to support claims that massage enhances the immune system and aids recovery from soft tissue injuries by increasing blood circulation to injured areas. Some studies indicate that massage can even reduce blood pressure.
The healing powers of massage have been recognized since antiquity. In the 5th century BC, the Greek physician Hippocrates wrote that his colleagues should be experienced "in rubbing ... for rubbing can bind a joint that is too loose, and loosen a joint that is too rigid." Various forms of massage were also employed by the ancient Chinese, Egyptians, and Romans. However, the technique as we know it today didn't appear until the late 19th century when Per Henrik Ling, a Swedish gymnast, formulated the principles of Swedish massage.
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How to Choose a Therapist?
It is important to make sure your therapist is properly qualified. The best evidence of this is membership in the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). Membership means that the therapist has graduated from a training program approved by the Commission on Massage Training Accreditation/Approval, holds a state license that meets AMTA certification standards, has passed an AMTA membership examination, or has passed the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Licensing of massage therapists is now required in 25 states, and an increasing number of states are adopting the National Certification Exam.
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Do I have to be naked?
No, you do not have to. You can wear light clothing for Shiatsu.
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