The history of massage therapy dates back to 3000 BC or earlier in India, where it was considered a sacred system of natural healing. Used by Hindus in Ayurveda “life health” medicine, massage therapy was a practice passed down through generations to heal injuries, relieve pain, and prevent and cure illnesses. However The oldest written record of massage is about 3000 years old, in an ancient Chinese medical text “Con-Fu of the Toa-Tse” 1800BCE. The book detailed the use of massage techniques for therapeutic purposes. Many believe that therapeutic touch actually began much earlier there. Acupuncture was the type of massage that was used during this time, as a result this is the oldest form of massage. The word massage was originally a French term meaning “friction of kneading.” It is believed to be derived from the Arabic massa, meaning “to touch, feel, handle.” Another possibility is that it comes from the Portuguese verb amassar, meaning “knead,” based on the Latin massa, “mass, dough.
Today, there are many different types of massage therapy to choose from and each have their own benefits. The different types of massage include Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, hot stone massage, prenatal massage, reflexology, shiatsu massage, sports massage therapy and Thai massage. Out of the large variety of massage therapies today, Swedish massage is arguably considered the most popular massage type, appearing on a majority of spa menus worldwide. This type of massage utilizes the following techniques—effleurage, friction, petrissage and tapotement for a truly relaxing spa treatment experience.
Swedish massage originated in Sweden in the 1830s. Swedish fencing instructor Per Henrik Ling reportedly cured his elbow injuries using percussion strokes around the affected area. In the years that followed, he developed the other strokes used by massage therapists today. This type of massage focuses on muscle relaxation, targeting superficial muscles rather than the connective tissues targeted in deep-tissue massage and increasing blood circulation. A study conducted in America ain 2020, Twenty-one percent of American adults received a massage in the past 12 months ending June 2020, with the average massage consumer getting 3.5 massages during this time period. This research is showing the constant growth in massage popularity as over one fifth of the American population had received a massage. On the other side of the treatment, research shows in America.