Swedish Massage Spa in New Jersey – Massage is the manipulation of the body’s soft tissues. Massage techniques are commonly applied with hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearms, feet, or a device. The purpose of massage is generally for the treatment of body stress or pain. In European countries, a person professionally trained to give massages is traditionally known as a masseur (male) or masseuse (female). In the United States, these individuals are often referred to as massage therapists, because they must be certified and licensed as “Licensed Massage Therapists”. In professional settings, clients are treated while lying on a massage table, sitting in a massage chair, or lying on a mat on the floor. There are many different modalities in the massage industry, including (but not limited to): deep tissue, manual lymphatic drainage, medical massage, sports massage, structural integration, Swedish Massage, Thai Massage, and trigger point.
Swedish Massage
The most widely recognized and commonly used category of massage is Swedish massage. The Swedish massage techniques vary from light to vigorous. Swedish massage uses five styles of strokes. The five basic strokes are effleurage (sliding or gliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (rhythmic tapping), friction (cross fiber or with the fibers) and vibration/shaking. The development of Swedish massage is often inaccurately credited to Per Henrik Ling, though the Dutch practitioner Johann Georg Mezger applied the French terms to name the basic strokes. The term “Swedish massage” is actually only recognized in English- and Dutch-speaking countries, and in Hungary. Elsewhere the style is referred to as “classic massage”. Clinical studies have found that Swedish massage can reduce chronic pain, fatigue, joint stiffness, and improve function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.
Benefits of Swedish Massage
Peer-reviewed medical research has shown that the benefits of massage include pain relief, reduced trait anxiety and depression, and temporarily reduced blood pressure, heart rate, and state of anxiety. Additional testing has shown an immediate increase and expedited recovery periods for muscle performance. Theories behind what massage might do include enhanced skeletal muscle regrowth and remodeling, blocking nociception (gate control theory), activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which may stimulate the release of endorphins and serotonin, preventing fibrosis or scar tissue, increasing the flow of lymph, and improving sleep.
Massage is hindered from reaching the gold standard of scientific research, which includes placebo-controlled and double blind clinical trials. Developing a “sham” manual therapy for massage would be difficult since even light touch massage could not be assumed to be completely devoid of effects on the subject. It would also be difficult to find a subject that would not notice that they were getting less of a massage, and it would be impossible to blind the therapist. Massage can employ randomized controlled trials, which are published in peer reviewed medical journals. This type of study could increase the credibility of the profession because it displays that purported therapeutic effects are reproducible.
Best Swedish Massage Spa in New Jersey
Lana’s Organic Day Spa offers an array of massage spa therapy techniques and styles such as Aromatherapy Massage, Hot Stone Massage, Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Cupping Massage, Couples Massage and Lymphatic Drainage Massage. Massage therapy can, and should, be an important part of your healthy and well-rounded lifestyle. The most common of all massage spa therapies offered at Lana’s Organic Day Spa is the Swedish Massage. Our massage spa therapist will use a variety of strokes and pressures, as well as a movement in the joints. The combination of movements relieves muscle tension and can be both relaxing and energizing. The Swedish Massage is a great introductory massage for anyone who is new to massage and simply wants to feel better.
