What you need to know about massage therapy:

A massage can release stress, soothe muscles, and alleviate pain. If you’re stressed and sore, you may think there’s nothing you can do but take some over the counter pain medications and plow through your day. But massage therapy provides another option, to give you some immediate relief and a better outlook. Read about the different types of massage therapy below.

Types of Massage Therapy

Swedish massage

Feeling stressed? A Swedish massage is the classic go-to for major relaxation. It is typically a full body massage that uses a gentile touch. If you are new to massages, this is a good pick. Swedish massages can help calm your nerves and can help you enter a relaxed emotional state of mind.

Deep tissue massage

Your muscles get tight not only from “working out” but even from everyday activities like sitting, driving, or hunching over your laptop. A deep tissue massage works to get into your muscles and tendons to release that tightness. This type of massage is good for people with injuries and chronic muscle pain

Sports massage

Athletes use their bodies differently than the average person, a massage therapist with experience in sports massage can get in there to break up muscle tightness and address sports injuries. Similar to a deep-tissue massage, sports massages will also zero in on the muscles that take a beating when you play sports or other repetitive physical activity.

Trigger point massage

Do you have a knot in your neck or a tight spot in your back is known as a “trigger point”. A trigger point is a tiny muscle spasm or tight spot in the tissue. In a trigger point massage, the therapist uses focused and direct pressure to target those spots. This increases blood flow to the areas, helping them release. Specifically, this type of massage can also be helpful for people with chronic pain.

Myofascial release

The fascia is a web of connective tissue under the skin. It supports the muscles and allows us to move freely. When you get a myofascial release, your therapist will knead and stretch the muscles and fascia to work out tension and tightness. It’s a form of deep stretching often used together with other therapeutic massage techniques. It’s great for opening up tightness in your neck, shoulders and your upper and lower back.

Lymphatic massage

Lymphatic fluid has several important functions, including maintaining fluid levels and removing waste products from the body. This type of massage requires a gentle touch to help lymphatic fluid flow “more freely” through the body. Therefore, the lymphatic massage is great for people with inflammation, like arthritis, and post surgically like mastectomies, which often involves removing the lymph nodes.

Prenatal massage

Prenatal massages are great for helping moms-to-be relax and can help address the aches and pains of growing a baby. Benefits of this massage are wonderful for taking pressure off the hips and can help with swelling in the feet and legs. When mom is relaxed and feeling well, the baby benefits too.

Not sure what type of massage is right for you? You don’t have to zero in on the perfect massage before booking an appointment. In fact, massage therapists often mix and match techniques to address your unique concerns.