Peter Henrik Ling 1776–1839
Soft tissue Manipulation (massage therapy) is probably the oldest and most healing of all methods. One naturally reacts to a hurt or injury by stroking the rubbing the affected area; a mother soothes a crying baby by stroking its head or back. Psychologists confirm that this stroking is not only soothing to the baby but plays an important role in its mental and emotional development.
In humans, gentle stroking of different part of the body brings about a relaxing semi hypnotic feeling that has a more favorable agent on the nervous system than tranquilizers and sleeping pills-with none of the detrimental aftereffects.
The use of manipulation has noted in the oldest records of history. There are records of massage being used in china as far back as 3000 B.C In those early days the Chinese had seven classes of physicians who used some form of manipulative therapy.
The ancient Hindus have recorded the use of manipulations in the Ayur-Veda, or “Art of life.” The Persians and Egyptians were familiar with and used many types of manual therapy. The anointing of oil” was an expression used repeatedly in the Old Testament. The ancient Greeks mention anointing and rubbing, friction, and active and passive movement almost as long ago as 1000 B.C Hippocrates used and recommended many types of manipulation.
Perhaps one of the oldest records of an attempt in the western world to use manipulation as a definite therapy in the treatment of disease was a description of the technique of Asclepiades, who lived about 140 B.C. He practiced in both Rome and Greece, and founded a very successful school in Rome in which he expounded his theory of the use of diet, water, massage, and active and passive exercise; he taught that movement of the body was necessary to health. What we are now learning about the importance of the lymph circulation, he did attempt to restore the free movement of nutritive fluids by means of rubbing and other forms of manipulation.
In the records of the ancient Greeks of about 1000 B.C and in reading Homer’s Odyssey we learn that the weary returning warriors were massaged and anointed, Greeks and Romans had many forms of manipulation for many different purposes—pinching, rubbing, massage, active and passive exercise, and a form of shampooing. These procedures were used as a luxury and with the baths; for therapeutic purpose in disease and deformities; for preparing athletes for competitions or exhibitions; and for repair after battle. Massage was also used, to put old decrepit slaves into good condition so that they would bring higher prices on the auction blocks.
Manipulation was used by the Romans from the first century B.C., The Roman physician Celsus, who lived in the first century, mentioned the rubbing of different parts of the body for different diseases and the many different types of manual therapy that were employed.
Julius Caesar had himself pinched all over for the relief of neuralgia. The emperor Hadrian the famous Pliny and the learned physician Galen used and advocated manipulation in the treatment of disease and in the general maintenance of health.
In the fifteenth century, the Japanese were also using all types of manipulation therapy. At that time, they published a book called San-T sai Tou- Hoei, with many drawings of the anatomy, of active passive movement. This therapy was used in disease, post fractures, muscular contractions and cramps, and the relief of fatigue.
The nineteenth century brought a great revival of all types of active and passive manipulation in the Western world. The famous Swedish fencing master, physiologist, and poet, Peter Henrik Ling, founder of Swedish – massage system, brought the knowledge and some of the practices of the ancients up to date. He tried, as far as possible, to put the art of manipulating on a scientific bases.
Most of the basis of soft tissue manipulation and medical gymnastics has stemmed from Ling's effort to coordinate and rationalize this field.
Although for many years the medical profession was reluctant to utilize the full therapeutic range of manipulation and massage, thus losing many of their patients to osteopathic physicians and chiropractors, the two world wars greatly stimulated the science of rehabilitation in the treatment of veterans. This gave great impetus to the acceptance by the medical establishment of the healing role called the Reilly physicians service, and at the Rockefeller center Institute we treated patients referred by over three thousand doctors.
Beneficial Effects of Therapeutic Massage
Massage promotes deep relaxation and stress reduction, with the relief of tension and stress, the clients feels better able to cope with daily situations. Massage can relieve mental and physical fatigue.
Massage increases circulation, which improves the delivery of nutrients, oxygen and arterial blood components to the local area, directly benefits restrictions to muscle tissue function. Mechanical benefits and reflex responses combine to help the muscular soft tissue respond through circulation improvement and elimination of by-product.
Massage increases venous flow, can encourage lymphatic flow, preventing edema that often occurs with inactivity.
Massage loosens scar tissue. Massage can prevent scarring to some degree by not allowing stagnation of tissue edema following injury, can improve muscle tone and helps prevent or delay muscular atrophy because of forced inactivity.
Massage may have a sedative, stimulating, or even exhaustive effect on the nervous system, depending on the type and length of the treatment, massage can stimulate the releases of endorphins, the body's natural painkiller, into the brain and nervous system.
Massage stimulates receptors in the skin and muscle; bring new awareness to areas that feel cut off by chronic patterns, increase greater joint flexibility and range of motion.
Massage provides healthier, better-nourished skin by removing dry or dead skin and allowing new tissue to form.
Massage strengthens the immune system and promotes disease prevention.
Massage stimulates receptors in the skin and muscle; bring new awareness to areas that feel cut off by chronic patterns, increase greater joint flexibility and range of motion.
Massage provides healthier, better-nourished skin by removing dry or dead skin and allowing new tissue to form.
Massage strengthens the immune system and promotes disease prevention.
Massage stimulates receptors in the skin and muscle; bring new awareness to areas that feel cut off by chronic patterns, increase greater joint flexibility and range of motion.
Massage provides healthier, better-nourished skin by removing dry or dead skin and allowing new tissue to form.
Massage strengthens the immune system and promotes disease prevention.