Which type of massage is best?  Here’s an article from my friend and colleague Janet. She’s been providing therapeutic massage to residents of southeast Michigan since 1992.

Janet says:

Some people have a preference for a certain type of massage.  This may be because they have had it in the past and enjoyed the experience.  But the fact of the matter is…

There are many types of massage treatments and a skilled therapist who knows many different techniques will quite likely incorporate several into each session.  Why would this be?  Different techniques “talk” to the body in different ways.  Some are more superficial or surface-touch.  Others work deeply into the skeletal and support muscles and tissues.

A massage for an athlete may be invigorating and helps the athlete know that he or she is in peak condition but it doesn’t cause relaxation or detract from their peak condition.

A massage for a frail person or child will not be vigorous or as deep as it would for an average person.  Someone who is suffering with back pain or hip pain will have a different massage experience than someone who has carpal tunnel syndrome.

ALL massage is beneficial but there are so many types and techniques that a knowledgeable therapist can choose from that each massage you have will be unique.  At one session you may have more warming and another time more trigger point work.

The massage that is best for you depends on how you feel at the time of your appointment.  It depends on whether you are experiencing any pain or dysfunction or whether you simply want an hour to yourself.

If your desire is to have a relaxation or stress reduction massage then that is best for you at that time.  But if you would like to feel better and leave with less pain than you came in with, a stress reduction massage would be frustrating for you.  You would wonder why you spent money that didn’t give you relief from your pain.

My goal is to help you to feel better and have less pain when you leave my office.  When you arrive, I will talk with you about any complaints you have.  We will go over your medical history.  And then I will work with you to develop a massage that will let you say, “This type of massage is best!”

Kathryn says:

An experienced massage therapist like Janet will give you a much different experience than a new therapist.  You can find very talented therapists and you can find some who just really aren’t too good, regardless of length of time they have been in the field.

Word of mouth is one of the very best ways to find a massage professional.  If someone you know was happy, there’s a good chance you will be, too.

Go to the Categories here and look for the Massage category.  You will find more articles there about therapeutic massage.