Massage Therapy

About This Treatment

Benefits of massage therapy can include:

• Relaxes tense muscles
• Improves joint movement
• Increases circulation
• Improves the tone of your skin
• Improves the lymph flow to help detoxify
• Boosts your immune system
• Relieves symptoms of stress
• Increases your ability to cope

What do the different types of massage mean?

There are a variety of massage therapy techniques and each one addresses different issues. Below is a description of each massage type. Your massage therapist may also be able to help you determine what techniques you might benefit most from.

Swedish Massage

With this commonly known technique, therapists use a combination of five basic strokes to manipulate the body’s soft tissues. This type of massage uses a lighter touch (not firm pressure like a deep-tissue massage). The primary goal of a Swedish massage is typically relaxation. Benefits of Swedish massage include general relaxation, relief from muscular tension and/or pain and improved circulation.

Deep-tissue Massage

Deep-tissue massage uses greater pressure and works on deeper muscle layers than Swedish massage. Deep-tissue massage is used to relieve chronic patterns of muscular tension by using slow strokes, direct pressure and friction.

Chair Massage

Chair massage takes advantage of techniques that provide fully clothed massages to clients who are seated in specially designed chairs. Therapists use a combination of Swedish and deep-tissue massage, commonly focused on working the head, neck, shoulders and back. Chair massage can also include the arms and hands.

Chair massage is currently only offered at Franciscan Health Massage Therapy Lafayette. 

Prenatal Massage

A prenatal massage is specifically tailored to the needs of a pregnant woman. During a pregnancy massage, your massage therapist may utilize pregnancy massage positioning or a special table to ensure a safe and comfortable massage during your pregnancy. Pregnancy is a time of physical and emotional change. Consistent massage therapy during this time can relieve physical symptoms, reduce stress and help promote positive mental health.

Reflexology

Reflexology involves applying pressure to specific points of the feet, hands and ears, which are believed to be connected to other parts of the body. Reflexology is often used to relieve stress or help prevent and treat certain physical disorders. (This service is currently only offered in the Indianapolis area.)