Also in this section:

About Massage

Massage manipulates the soft tissues of the body.
It is used for the beneficial effects on the nervous, muscular systems and connective tissues and for enhancing the circulation of blood and lymph.
“Massage cannot be aptly explained in words but needs to be experienced to realize its full potential” – MC Nisbit

Massage may assist in the following areas:

Health maintenance and/or health promotion
Promotes general tissue health and encourages lifestyle and general health awareness.
Stress management
Helps relieve associated muscular tension and encourages general relaxation.
Injury Rehabilitation
Speeds recovery from injury and regaining full range of movement.
Post-operative care
Helps reduce recovery period, speeds up elimination of anaesthetic and reduces pain and stiffness associated with bed rest.
Emotional and/or psychological disorders
Releases endorphins that help to uplift and reduce depression.
Terminal illness
Helps reduce pain and discomfort associated with long term bed rest as well as providing support and reducing the effects of emotional stress for the patient as well as the family.
Chronic pain
Helps break the “pain – spasm” cycle whilst reducing associated muscle tightness. Deactivates trigger points which can cause referred pain.
Care of the disabled
Provides emotional support as well as assisting in the maintenance of general tissue health

Some of the reported physical benefits of massage:
• Increases blood and lymph circulation; Increases supply of oxygen and nutrients to the body’s tissues; Assists the clearing of metabolic wastes; May help remove excess fluid/ swelling.
• Decreases muscle tension to enhance functioning of muscles and associated vessels.
• Reduces or removes tension- related muscle pain.
• Speeds recovery of muscles from exercise.
• Frees up connective tissue layers for increased mobility and circulation.
• Can reduce nerve irritation and pain.
• Improves lung functioning by relaxing overtight muscles associated with breathing.
• Can improve immune function and encourage energy flow in the body.

Modern massage therapy has been assisted by the accumulation of scientific evidence that both supports and explains the beneficial effects of massage in the treatment of soft tissue injuries.
There are more and more research studies being done on the benefits of massage therapy. The following links will give further information on this subject.

Some Massage Research links:
Massage Therapy Foundation www.massagetherapyfoundation.org
Touch Research Institute www.miami.edu/touch-research/
Massage Magazine USA Research Organisations www.massagemag.com
Massage Therapy Research www.internethealthlibrary.com

Research databases:
Pubmed: www.pubmed.com
MANTiS: www.healthindex.com
Index New Zealand: www.innz.natlib.govt.nz

You can find the answers to frequently asked questions here

Use this link for information on Massage techniques

For articles submitted by MNZ members on a range of subjects related to massage therapy, click Articles

The ‘Articles’ section of this website is currently under construction.

Once complete it will contain a list of articles submitted by MNZ members on a range of subjects related to massage therapy.

Feldenkrais

Habitual movement patterns brought to the clients awareness, and the creation of new movement patterns, are taught with the aim of restoring a full range of client function.

Alexander Technique

Through gentle manual and verbal guidance, a client is encouraged to re-educate their posture to achieve ease of movement and good health. The fully clad client is taught how to break old patterns of holding and movement.

Miri Miri (traditional Maori massage)

Miri Miri or Makoha – meaning natural gift – is the traditional Maori massage. It is steeped in Maori customs and culture, encompassing whanau ora (family health), tinana ora (physical health), hinengaro ora (mental health) and wairua ora (spiritual health). Miri miri is very much a holistic tradition, used for healing the physical and spiritual elements of a person’s life.
A massage is preceded by a karakia (traditional prayer) and waiata (song) that will soothe and welcome your spirit. The actual massage is characterised by a technique that uses therapeutic rhythmic strokes inspired by the tempo of the ocean. Miri Miri takes much of its inspiration from the natural elements.

Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD)

Most massages stimulate the movement of lymph as a matter of course, but Lymphatic Massage provides external pressure specifically to promote this flow. Many practice the Vodder Technique developed in France in the 1930s. It is very light, pulsing or pumping massage which has a lulling, relaxing effect on the autonomic nervous system. It is effective in the treatment of Fibromyalgia, sinusitis, burns, acne, scars, arthritis, emphysema and migraines, as well as the more common usage for oedema, sprains and bruises. It is especially effective when combined with Fascial Kinetics.

Fascial Kinetics - a Bowen Therapy

is the name given to the work taught by Russell Sturgess, who studied the soft tissue therapy (Tom Bowen’s) under Ossie Rentsch. It addresses fascial and connective tissue restrictions in a very gentle and less obtrusive manner by applying transverse (across the) muscle fibre moves in a specific sequence. This creates a window of opportunity for the fascia to re-hydrate, which assists in bringing harmony to the mechanical and physiological functions of the body (the healing response of the connective tissue, ie fascia), thereby reducing inflammation, swelling and pain significantly and increasing mobility (due to rehydration of the fascia.) This treatment is suitable for everyone.
Conditions that can be treated include: fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine and headaches, frozen shoulder, back and neck problems, Sprains/Strains, Sciatica, TMJ dysfunction, (tennis elbow) RSI. It is extremely effective during pregnancy.

Bowen

This is a very gentle, yet dynamic remedial therapy that empowers the body to heal itself. Exact moves over muscles, tendons and ligaments are applied to disturb the fascia. There are frequent pauses between each series of moves to allow the body time to benefit from the treatment. This promotes healing through physical, emotional, mental and energetic levels, as well as offering relief from pain and discomfort from a multitude of chronic and acute conditions.
Bowen does not interfere with the effectiveness of other disciplines except acupuncture. Bowen is effective on its own, may complement other therapies and has few contraindications. It is related to Fascial Kinetics.

Ortho-bionomy

Practitioners use the principle of ‘spontaneous positional release’. With this gentle technique the client’s body is guided into its most preferred posture or position of comfort, in order for self correction to occur. Compressions may be gently applied to dysfunctional muscles and released.

Craniosacral therapy

Born out of osteopathy, this technique has its foundation in what is considered the deepest rhythm of the body – The rhythm of the central nervous system with the ebb and flow of the cerebro-spinal fluid. The practitioner typically palpates this rhythm by gently holding the cranium and/or sacrum, and can assess and treat many deep seated traumas, stress, headaches, chronic pain, and muscular skeletal dysfunctions.

Search this site: