Massage therapy is the manipulation of muscles and connective tissue using various techniques to aid in the healing process, to enhance function and range of motion, to decrease muscle reflex activity, to promote relaxation and well-being. While many appreciate massage therapy for health and well-being purposes, many others appreciate it as a form of recreational relaxation and de-stress.

Massage involves manually manipulating the muscles and tissue with pressure, regardless if the movement is structured, unstructured, stationary, or moving – using tension, motion, or vibration – done manually or with mechanical assistance. The tissues that are targeted include: muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, skin, joints, and other connective tissue.

Mainly used for rehabilitation purposes and as preventative measures, massage therapy has had a great impact on healthcare for centuries, and it will continue to retain its foundation in healthcare for hundreds of years to come. Massage therapy has exhibited a huge potential for growth in the last fifty years, so much that its demand has accelerated to an all-time high, as alternative medicine and as form of de-stress and relaxation.

The word massage comes from the Arabic root “mass’h” which means to touch, knead or squeeze. It’s believed that massage therapy evolved by our natural desire to rub an area exhibiting pain or discomfort.

The origin of massage therapy dates back to thousands of years ago, where it was practiced in ancient cultures for their strong belief it its medical benefits. Its earliest accounts were discovered in China and Egypt. The earliest written account of massage therapy was found in a Chinese text named “The Yellow Emperor’s Classic Book of Internal Medicine,” dated back to 2700 BC, later published in English in 1949, this historic text has become a staple in massage therapy training and is still used as a reference for teaching alternative forms of medicine such as acupuncture.

Later discoveries have revealed tomb paintings and carvings which illustrated the use of massage therapy in Egyptian cultures. Archaeological evidence of massage therapy has also been discovered in many other ancient civilizations including India, Japan, Korea, Rome, Greece and Mesopotamia.