Different strokes
Soothing or stimulating, treat or treatment - there is a form of massage to to suit every person (not to mention every ailment). But which to choose? Alice Wignall investigates the option
Tuesday 17 July 2007 00.11 BSTFirst published on Tuesday 17 July 2007 00.11 BST
The instinct to touch and be touched is one of the most basic any of us have. And never more so than when we're stressed or injured. If you bang your leg, you rub it; hurt your arm, you grab it. If you are tired and overwhelmed you demand a hug (or even try to give yourself one if there's no one else about). So it is hardly surprising that there are techniques and systems of touch to address a wide range of issues - from muscle pain or stress, to digestive or circulation problems. Why not try these for starters?
Therapeutic massage
The idea of paying a total stranger to knead and stroke your limbs and torso can seem shamelessly self-indulgent. But there's more to it than just having your skin stroked (pleasurable as that may be). A therapeutic massage - sometimes known as Swedish massage because it was a Swede, Pehr Henrik Ling, who created the scientific system that still forms the basis of most massage treatments - is what you are likely to have if you book in for a "massage". It will consist of a series of strokes, kneading, friction, percussion and vibration, though other techniques may also be incorporated, to manipulate your skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia.
The benefits of massage could - and indeed do - fill a book. It can increase joint mobility, decrease inflammation, relieve muscle pain and tightness, increase flexibility, and enhance blood flow and lymphatic drainage. It can also help increase relaxation and reduce stress. And then there is the sheer sensual delight of being touched by a trained professional - well, it has to be better than a "back rub" that requires you to do the washing-up in exchange.
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