What Is It?

Massage has been used since before recorded history, and it remains a popular CIH approach.  In 2012, 6.9% of Americans had experienced some form of massage in the past year.¹  Use in people with pain is much higher; a Canadian study reported that 56% of patients with nonspecific chronic back pain and 48% with arthritis or other musculoskeletal disorders had used it over the last 12 months.²  Aside from mind-body approaches and animal-assisted therapies, massage is currently one of the most widely available complementary approaches used in the US. 

Massage therapist training and licensing standards vary greatly from state to state.³  There is also variability from school to school.  Common certifications you will see after a therapist’s name include CMT (certified massage therapist) and LMT (licensed massage therapist).  CAMT stands for “certified acupressure massage therapist.”

Types of Massage Therapy

Massage therapy has been defined as “the systematic manipulation of soft tissue with the hands that positively affects and promotes healing, reduces stress, enhances muscle relaxation, improves local circulation, and creates a sense of well-being.”  Types of massage therapy include the following^4-6:

• Swedish massage (and similar schools) involves stroking and kneading the body using various methods.  5 basic massage techniques are used, including:
  • Effleurage—stroking with various degrees of pressure.  This is what most people think of when they think of a massage.
  • Petrissage—a kneading motion, done with the fingers and thumbs in a circular pattern
  • Tapotement—rhythmic, vigorous tapping or slapping done to stimulate deep tissues
  • Friction—use of the palm, forearm, heel of the hand, or even the elbows to roll, ring, and compress tissue
  • Vibration—can be done using hands or using a machine

·         Shiatsu is based on massaging over trigger points and pressure points.  Therapists most commonly use the balls of their thumbs and follow points called tsubos, which are often pressed or held, and correlate with acupuncture points.