Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is the most commonly associated method that people think of when they hear “massage.” Five basic strokes are used in order to increase circulation to the heart. Energetic treatment of soft tissue is united with specific work on problematic areas to increase the flow of blood and lymph, relax muscles that are tense, and energize the body. Swedish massage has proven itself to be particularly beneficial to relieving muscle pain, reducing stress, and improving immune system functioning as well as enhancing respiratory function, reducing swelling caused by blocked lymphatic vessels, and helping heal soft-tissue injuries.
Recent studies on massage, especially Swedish massage, have shown that patients who have recently been hospitalized credited the use of massage therapy with their increased mobility, energy, positive mood changes, and quicker recovery rates. Children have also seemed to benefit from massage. Premature infants that received massages gained weight and were released earlier from the hospital than those who did not receive them and autistic children displayed less erratic behavior after massages.
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