Give yourself a time out to breathe, compose yourself and relax with Massage Therapy at Ocean Drive Med Spa in Vero Beach, Florida.
At Ocean Drive Med Spa in Vero Beach Massage Therapy is provided by our expert massage therapists who focus on various parts of your body to reduce stress, muscle tension, increase relaxation, improve circulation and immune function.
During a massage, the soft tissues of your body are manipulated with varying degrees of pressure. Importantly, massage therapy touches more than just your muscles. On top of everything is the body’s largest organ, skin, and the spidery web connective tissue that covers us from head to toe, the fascial layers. While it’s often the musculoskeletal system that gets the most credit, much more is going on that is affected by massage touch.
In all, there are eleven central “systems” in the body: Cardiovascular/Circulatory, which is comprised of arteries and veins, Digestive which is what we taken in and eliminate, Endocrine handles the hormonal balance, Integumentary aka the skin, Lymphatic which moves the white blood cells in the immune system, Musculoskeletal which is the framework of the body responsible for movement, Nervous which is the brain to body connection, Renal which produces/stores and eliminates urine and other metabolic waste from the body, Reproductive the sex organs, Respiratory which is the movement of air, exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs and finally, the Vestibular which is the balance system located in the inner ear and is responsible for balance and movement. When receiving a full body massage, the touch will positively impact each of these systems.
There are about five basic massage techniques that are standard with every massage. They are the building blocks, the “framework” for all therapeutic bodywork. These five massage foundations movements or “strokes” include:
This technique uses mild pressure applied by the palms of the practitioner’s hands in a long gliding motion designed to assess and gently warm the area to be worked. It is very effective in assisting in healthy lymphatic flow. It is generally the opening movement when the massage begins.
This technique is often compared to gentle kneading, where your massage therapist will knead, roll, wring and lift the muscle of the area being manipulated. This technique focuses on loosening restricted fascia (or connective tissue) that may be causing discomfort, increase circulation, and stimulate the nerve endings. This stroke is very effective in locating knotted muscles and determining if the problem is a knot or a trigger point.
Tapotement utilizes a rhythmic and percussive movement designed to stimulate the nerves and warm the muscles, improving circulation. Your massage therapist uses their cupped hands or loose fists to manipulate the soft tissue.
The Friction massage stroke is mainly used to break down scar tissue around joints and fibrous adhesions while increasing circulation and range of motion. The practitioner performs small thumb circles in a “back and forth” motion with the fingers alongside the muscle.
Vibration is slightly different than the others mentioned previously. While the others are geared towards muscle and soft tissue manipulation, this one involves gentle rocking and shaking movements. Again, the goal is to increase relaxation and decrease stress and tension.
While you are resting comfortably on the table during your massage session, you will feel a series of different massage strokes ranging from gentle thumb gliding along with the muscle tissue to tapping, kneading, and wringing to get the muscle fibers to release their tension. Gentle kneading “warms” the muscle or muscle group to be worked by your massage therapist. All muscle tissue must be warmed before therapeutic bodywork, or else the muscles run a high risk of injury/further injury. The gentle kneading also introduces fresh blood and nutrients into your muscle, nourishing the organs and soft tissue structures.
In addition, all massage strokes are designed to help guide blood and lymph fluid back towards the heart and lungs for gas exchange (exchanging carbon dioxide molecules for oxygen).
Massage therapy has been actively practiced in certain countries for thousands of years.
Countries like China, Japan, and even ancient Egypt have used the health-promoting benefits of massage therapy. Some of the benefits of Massage Therapy include:
It also increases relaxation by releasing serotonin, dopamine, and other ” feel good” endorphins. In addition, studies suggest a simple 10-minute massage reduces post-workout soreness by as much as 30 percent.
Studies have also shown that regular massage therapy treatments provide long-lasting effects on the body. Our highly trained massage therapists offer personalized massage therapy Vero Beach patients can receive to help reduce stress, relieve muscle tension, or simply relax. Schedule your Massage Therapy session today.
When was the last time you treated yourself to something really special? When you schedule a consultation at Ocean Drive Med Spa, you are investing in yourself and your health in a way that is clear for the world to see. Schedule your consultation for the self-care you deserve or share the experience with some friends with one of our signature spa parties! Either way, you can soak in the beauty at Ocean Drive Med Spa.
