Massage relieves pain and stress
The purpose of massage is generally to reduce muscle tension, muscle pain and stress. Massage is also often used by athletes to improve performance and recovery.
effective methods
Common massage techniques are stroking, kneading, tapping and shaking. In massage therapy, stretching and pressure are also used. The massage techniques are performed with fingers, hands, forearms, elbows, knees or feet - depending on the massage tradition.
In professional massage, clients are treated while lying on a massage table, sitting in a massage chair or lying on a mat on the floor.
Some massage methods are performed while the client is wearing clothes (eg Traditional Thai massage), while others use massage oils on the skin for the right amount of friction.
No side effects
Massage generally has no negative side effects, but clients should still be in normal shape. Massage therapists should use a medical questionnaire when receiving new clients, and refer them to an authorized healthcare professional if there is any doubt about the clients' health.
professionalism
Clients are advised to use approved and registered massage therapists, such as the members of Norwegian Massage Association. This ensures that the therapist has the right education and follows the ethics and regulations of the serious massage industry.