Massage Articles, Research and Book Reviews
Articles about massage can be found on the PH website at the following links
We have published a great number of articles during the past 15 years and below is a list of just some of them. To see them all please visit www.positivehealth.com click on Articles then massage. We also intend to publish other sections on Seated Chair Massage, Huna-Huna, Sports and Oriental Massage.
Aftercare or Afterthought? What Happens at the End of the Massage Session by Su Fox
The column concludes that consultation, massage treatment, aftercare – at the beginning, during and after a session – have a valuable place in good holistic massage practice.
Biodynamic Massage: A Truly Therapeutic Massage by Denise McCrohan
Biodynamic Massage works across a wide spectrum from deep muscular work, to connective tissue massage, to light energetic touch and work in the aura.
Body Massage Treatment – A Holiday Treat by Jolanta Basnyet
A truly relaxing holiday for me is a holiday with body massage or any other form of natural treatments (not necessarily tactile).
Dynamic Bodyuse in Massage by Andy Fagg and Darien Pritchard
Massage is about movement, both within the client but also on the part of the practitioner. Effective movement and bodyuse by the massage therapist can be a key to good treatment, both in terms of physical ease and creating appropriate atmosphere.
Esalen Massage: Deep Connections by Lucia Appleby
Founded in 1962 by Michael Murphy and Richard Price to explore unrealized human potential, the Esalen Institute in California has consistently been at the forefront of new developments and discoveries in the fields of psychology and bodywork. As well as being a spiritual retreat and healing spa, the Institute offers workshops and lectures ranging from massage through gestalt to sustainable environments.
Exploring Integrative Massage Therapy by Asaf Rolef Ben-Shahar
Integrative Massage Therapy (IMT) is a technique that combines elements from different modalities, such as touch and massage, Reichian bodywork/body rhythms, neuro-linguistic programming and psychotherapy, hypnotherapy/trancework, stress management, movement, reflective listening, shamanic work (e.g. journeys, storytelling and healing) and meridian therapies.
Facing It by Clare Maxwell-Hudson
Regular columnist Clare Maxwell-Hudson examines how face massage can be a powerful tool and that there is more to it than beauty. Applying sensitive touch to the face can overcome resistance towards relaxation during a body massage.
Holistic Massage by Sara Thomas & Lucy Lidell
In essence, massage is simply touch that is caring and sensitive – healing hands stroking and soothing, giving comfort and nourishment to the body.
In the Event of Your Death? by Su Fox
The author was impressed by an article about a 91-year-old massage therapist, who has been massaging for sixty years and has just had her license renewed. But evidently, she may not be practising for many more years, and all of us will leave this planet at some point.
Injury Prevention for Massage Practitioners by Lauriann Green
Now the good news: there is a great deal you can do to protect yourself from injury related to your massage work.
Injury Prevention Massage by Jennifer Longmore
Statistics estimate that about 1.2 million working people suffer from musculo-skeletal disorders and everyday about six workers give up their jobs because of RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury). Other common conditions are: Cumulative Trauma Disorders, Occupational Overuse Injuries, Work Related Upper Limb Disorder, Back Pain, Neck Pain, etc. Many of these injuries stem from demands placed on the body, improper posture, high stress levels, lack of exercise and weight problems.
Letter to a Newly Qualified Practitioner from a Massage Elder by Su Fox
The information contained in Su Fox’s latest column are indeed exciting and valuable, and to be treasured by newly and experienced practitioners alike. She refers to herself as a Massage Elder.
Massage and Complex Trauma: A Case Study by Su Fox
In this column on Body Massage, the author presents a case study of massage techniques regarding a client who suffered complex trauma as a result of prolonged, overwhelming abuse and neglect from early childhood.
Massage and the Importance of Medical Input by Su Fox
The author, a Massage, Craniosacral and Psychotherapist, focuses on the importance of medical input in relation to body massage. As her brother is a Medical Consultant, she is in the fortunate position of being able to seek his advice easily on, for example, the possible effects of light massage on neuralgia or how a particular medication acts on the nervous system.
Massage is Relaxing. Discuss... by Su Fox
In this column, the author discusses the ‘massage is relaxing phenomenon’ and the role of bilateral stimulation of the brain that may also contribute to this phenomenon, which she came across in two new therapeutic techniques.
Massage Matters: Massage and Medication by Su Fox
This column focuses on the use of proper medication and massage techniques on an elderly woman with a complex medical picture....as she suffers from lower back pain due to wear and tear on her dorsal intervertebral discs, which causes occasional sciatic pain; chronic asthma and a tendency to develop bronchitis in winter; hypertension, varicose veins, angina, partial blockage of an artery to the heart and oedema in both legs. Other conditions include right shoulder pain and restricted mobility, arthritic thumb joints and an inoperable torn cruciate ligament.
Massage Techniques for Childbirth by Linda Kimber
Touch, in the form of a positive massage during labour, was an area I wanted to explore to determine whether it is a useful way of shifting the focus of active support away from the midwife and towards the birthing partner. The following article summarises a review I undertook of my practice of massage techniques in labour.
Massage Therapy for people with Cancer: A Practitioner's Experience by Louise Roy
In this article, Louise Roy describes her experience with one cancer patient and discusses the challenges facing massage practitioners. During training, many massage students are warned that giving massage to people with cancer might cause its spread. This is not, however, the belief of all experts.
Nothing New Under The Sun by Clare Maxwell-Hudson
Dr James Mennel, Head of the Department of Massage at St Thomas’ Hospital (London) early in the last century, first brought out his book on massage in 1934. In this, her first column for Positive Health entitled ‘A Licence to Touch’, Clare Maxwell-Hudson, who runs her own massage school and is an acclaimed writer on massage, compares Mennel’s general rules of massage with the qualities that she has noticed amongst her own most successful students.
RhythmMobility by Darien Pritchard
Darien Pritchard has been practising massage for 25 years, and describes how he developed the Rhythm-Mobility technique, having noticed how clients' often resist massage and are unable to let go. Exerting more force in massage in such cases is counter-productive as the body feels that it is under attack and its response is to tense up. He has found that using gentle vibration and rhythmical movements can bypass such reactions and simultaneously energize the client and encourage the release of deep tensions.
Standards in Massage Therapy by Leon Chaitow, ND DO
A question which I am regularly asked deserves an honest answer. "How do you find the standard of massage therapist here compared with elsewhere?"
The Application of Massage in Psychogenic Disorders by Mario-Paul Cassar
Cassar discusses the use of massage in psychogenic disorders. It is well known that massage relaxes us and can benefit us on emotional levels, but can it help with more complex behavioural and neurological dysfunctions? Recent research has been undertaken by The Touch Research Institutes at the University of Miami School of medicine and the Nova Southeastern University, Florida, headed by Dr Tiffany Field.
The Massage Practitioner and the Medical Profession – Then and Now by Su Fox
This article focuses on the changes over the years on massage techniques and requirements. The author says massage is no longer just a therapy of indulgence and pampering but one that people with chronic medical conditions choose to complement their medical treatments.
The Power Of Voluntary Work by Clare Maxwell-Hudson
Regular contributor Clare Maxwell-Hudson shows how voluntary work has been a valuable part of societies all over the world. A large study in Michigan found that those who did voluntary work had death rates two and a half times lower than those who did not..
Massage Research Listings
We record the latest research on a variety of conditions. To see the research on massage covered during the past 15 years please go to the following link. Massage Research
Massage Book Reviews
A few books on massage we have reviewed in previous years.
A Practical Guide to Childbirth Massage Techniques
(Linda Kimber) Reviewed by: Kathy Pollard
Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology for the Massage Therapist
(Su Fox and Darien Pritchard) Reviewed by: Mario-Paul Cassar
Dynamic Bodyuse for Effective Strain-Free Massage
(Darien Pritchard) Reviewed by: Mario-Paul Cassar
Infant Massage - A handbook for loving parents
(Vimala McClure) Reviewed by: Jenny Lester
Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy
(by Carole Osborne-Sheets) Reviewed by: Sheila Michie
Self-Massage for Athletes
(by Rich Poley) Reviewed by: Mario-Paul Cassar
Thai Massage - Nuad Bo Rarn
(Christine Townley) Reviewed by: Kira Balaskas
The Massage Connection: Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology
(Dr. Kalyani Premkumar MBBS MD CMT) Reviewed by: Mario-Paul Cassar |
