History of Massage and Bodywork

• 2000 B.C. - The art of massage first mentioned in writing.
• 500 B.C. - Egyptian, Persian, and Japanese historical medical literature are full of references to massage.
• 460 - 377 B.C. - Greek physician, Hippocrates, advocates massage and gymnastic exercise.
• 589 - 617 A.D. - Knowledge of massage and its applications are well established in Chinese medicine at the time of Sui Dynasty.
• 1517 - 1590 - French physician and one of the founders of modern surgery, Ambrose Pare uses massage techniques for joint stiffness and wound healing after surgery.
• 1776 - 1839 - Per Henry Ling is credited with developing Swedish massage, a system of massage using many of the positions and movements of Swedish gymnasts combined with exercise. He also established the Royal Gymnastic Central Institute allowing him to teach his method to physicians from Germany, Austria, Russia, and England. By the time of his death in 1839 Per Henry Ling had acquired worldwide recognition.
• 1839 - 1909 - Dr. Johann Mezger of Holland is given credit for bringing massage to the scientific community.
• 1852 - 1943 - Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (of Kellogg cereal family) founder of Battle Creek Sanitorium writes articles and textbooks on massage and hydrotherapy.
• 1856 - The Taylor brothers introduce Swedish Massage Movements to the U.S.
• 1894 - First organized society for massage therapy formed "Society of Trained Masseuses".
• 1918 - Polio epidemic renews interest in massage.
• 1920's - Connective tissue massage and manual lymphatic drainage is developed.
• Early 1940's - Licensing for physical therapy begins.
• 1950 - 1956 - Important articles and books on massage techniques are written by Francis Tappan and Gertrude Beard and by Margaret Knott and Dorothy Voss.
• Late 1980's - Melzacks theory of hyperstimulation analgesia is inspired by findings concerning massage.
• 1991 - The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami is created.
• 1992 - National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork is first administered.
• 1993 - The New England Journal of Medicine reports the use of alternative and complimentary forms of health care.
• 1995 to present - The available research information about therapeutic massage continues to increase.

Massage and Bodywork Today

The rising acceptance of alternative health care in the U.S. has brought about a surge of interest in healing touch that has made therapeutic massage the 2nd most popular alternative health modality in the country. The profession of massage therapy and related bodywork has become very sophisticated, knowledge is required in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology. Technical skills are needed in pathology, medications, record keeping, communication skills as well as in massage techniques.

 Why Massage?

According to Dr. Andrew Weil, a leading authority on alternative health care in the United States, Americans are touch deprived. The desire for physical contact is an instinctive and physiologic need for well being. Most Americans lead hectic lives and few take time to think of their own well being. The name of my business comes from these ideas. Para in this instance means beyond, "beyond touch". My hope is that through my touch, in the form of therapeutic massage clients will experience; relief from the pain of tight muscles, a respite from stress, an awareness of the things that put our bodies in stress, or an increased sense of well being in a safe professional environment.

Studies at the University of Miami School of Medicine Touch Research Institute have shown that massage has the following benefits:

• Facilitates growth
• Increases attentiveness and learning
• Alleviates pain
• Improves immune function
• Reduces stress
• Promotes healing of psychiatric problems
• Assists in overcoming addictions
• Supports effective digestion and breathing
• Diminishes premenstrual symptoms
• Lowers blood pressure, anxiety, and hostility levels associated with hypertension
• Increases job performance
• Reduces the number of headache days in those who experience migraines
• Reduces pain and increases range of motion in individuals with low back pain
• Improves clinical measures in pediatric eczema
• Improves grip strength, functional activities, positive mood, self-esteem, and body image in multiple sclerosis
• Improves caregiver-child relationships for abused and neglected children
• Massage reduces stress and improves sleep patterns in those giving massages.

Research is currently being done on the effects of massage in diseases such as cystic fibrosis; childhood irritable bowel syndrome; arthritis in the elderly; coma and spinal cord injuries (to upgrade circulation and retard muscle atrophy); helping cerebral palsy victims gain muscle flexibility; and to reduce the formation of scar tissue after breast surgery as well as to reduce anxiety, depression, and cortisone levels associated with breast surgery.

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Make an appointment for a massage and see
what benefits you can derive from making
massage part of your life.