Massage Therapy Residencies
Massage therapy has been used to relax and increase blood circulation for centuries. A well-trained massage therapist can provide a number of therapeutic benefits for their customers. The effects of massage therapies vary according to the individual characteristics of the patient. Generally speaking, however, massage can have very positive benefits for the body.
Medical massage has been demonstrated to relieve pain, improve mobility, reduce stress, and enhance mood. Depending on the specific kind of massage, different techniques can include cupping, gentle rocking, pressing, rubbing or tapping. Medical massage can also relieve inflammation and pain for anyone with chronic medical conditions, including cancer, arthritis, joint problems or spinal cord injuries. According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), a regular massage can also help "relieve emotional stress and tension." Massage therapy offers many other health benefits for patients, such as reducing the common effects of aging, boosting energy levels and mental awareness, reducing the risk of injury and even improving fertility in some instances.
Among the more popular therapeutic massage techniques is known as Swedish massage. Swedish massage is a form of massage that focuses on long strokes and gentle kneading motions. It is often used to alleviate muscle tension, increase blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, improve range of motion, and remove toxins from your system. Swedish massage is particularly useful for individuals with low back pain or other chronic muscle pain, as it can help to strengthen and stretch the muscles of the lower body.
There are a variety of massage therapists who specialize in treating an assortment of requirements and providing therapeutic services. By way of example, there are massage therapists who work with athletes, those who have had strokes or are suffering from a traumatic event, and those who have neuromuscular disorders. Massage may be provided by a massage therapist or in a specialized center like a sports medicine clinic. Therapists who offer specialized services in the field of sports medicine may also treat athletes who have been injured and not able to perform to their maximum potential because of this injury. Sports therapy clinics will frequently have therapists who specialize in a particular sport or body part.
There are other varieties of massage therapy that don't fall into the realm of sports medicine. For instance, a skilled acupuncturist can give an individual with a number of massage therapy benefits. Acupuncturists, as massage therapists are known, utilize their hands to apply pressure to certain regions of the body, which in turn, alleviates pain or reduces it. Aromatherapy is another sort of therapeutic massage treatment that uses essential oils to provide an individual having a calming effect.
The three most popular therapeutic massage techniques that are offered by licensed massage therapists are Swedish, deep tissue and sports massage. Each one exhibits unique benefits that are designed to help you enhance your health and well-being. While Swedish massage has been shown to be beneficial for those suffering from a great number of different ailments, including chronic pain, stress management and arthritis, deep tissue massages are shown to decrease blood pressure and have positive effects on the heart, bones and joints. Sports massage has been proven to be particularly valuable for athletes and people that are recovering from an injury.
If you're interested in obtaining a massage therapy certification, you can do so by attending one of the licensed massage therapy residency programs. During a residency program, you are going to study under a certified therapist for up to six months in order to acquire the essential skills and knowledge to become certified. Most massage therapy residency programs are offered at colleges or universities that are dedicated to a particular area of medicine. You can select from four different areas in which to complete your residency program, such as pediatrics, cardiology, endocrinology and physiology.
Massage therapists who attend these residency programs have lots of job opportunities lined up for them after they've graduated. Once you've obtained your massage therapy certification, you can work in any number of areas, including hospitals, clinics and spas, in addition to privately, home offices and private families. Many massage therapists work in school gyms, schools, hospitals and homes to help people relax and handle pain. To find out more on massage therapy schools or programs, take a look at the Touch Research Institute.
