Tips For Choosing A Massage Therapist In Columbus, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio is one of the best places to stay in America today. It has been fondly called "The Biggest Small Town in America." Its perfect mix of urban, suburban and rural elements makes Columbus a very attractive place for people to live and to do business in. This city is a confluence of many different cultures, thus many different therapeutic practices are available for you. In Columbus, choosing a masseuse based on your preferences is a very easy task; you just need to be able to discern the different kinds of massage and ensure that the massage therapist you choose is qualified to perform them.

The only thing that you really have to check for any massage therapist is that they have a license from the State Medical Board. Other certification from training and for the massage that they are specializing in is also a plus. Referrals from other massage enthusiasts and from the city’s health offices are also an integral part of your search process. Good massage therapists generally have good feedback readily available, so check online in places such as Google Places or Yelp for reviews from past customers.

Here are some of the common types of massage available in Columbus, Ohio and nationwide:

Swedish Massage

Swedish massage or classic massage is the most common kind of massage available. Swedish massage reduces pain, and may be able to relieve joint stiffness. Swedish massage is actually just simple hand movement and kneading.

Deep Tissue Massage

Unlike Swedish massage, deep tissue massage is aimed at the deeper structures of your muscle tissue and fascia (connective tissue). Deep tissue massage is more intense than Swedish and may actually cause you to be sore the next day. This type of massage can help relieve muscle knots and deep tension.

Sports Massage

Sports massage is any massage taken after an athletic activity to relieve any pain by stimulating the body’s production of endorphins, the natural pain killer. It can also be used to enhance warm-up and cool-down activities before exercise to ensure that you will not have any torn ligaments or muscles.

Hot Stone Massage

Hot stone massages makes use of heated round basalt stones placed above key points in the body to relax the muscles. While the hot stones produce an effect similar to the massage itself, adding reflexology or shiatsu massages will double the effect.

Reflexology

Reflexology is the use of massages to certain zones or regions in a person’s foot or palm to relieve the tension in another part of the body. It is commonly coupled with oils and aroma therapy to soothe the target body part. Reflexology derives its theory from the Eastern medical notion of meridians and qi, which basically states that the reflexologist redirects the flow of energy within the body to provide healing.

Qualified massage therapists may use any combination of the above techniques when performing massage therapy services. For example, you may be needing sports massage on a particular day, or maybe even some hydro therapy (hot and cold treatment) for a flare up of tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome. With the right massage therapist in Columbus, Ohio, the possibilities are endless!

Learning Proper Massage Techniques

There is more to a massage than the ability to perform a good back rub. Any therapist would tell you that there is intense study, formal schooling, and certification involved before you can render a proper massage. You will find professional massage therapists all over Australia have professional therapists who are trained in the art of massage techniques.

Therapists are usually certified in more than one massage technique technique in order to provide whatever service the client would request from them.

Swedish massage

This aims to lessen stress by relieving muscle tension and loosening sore joints. The massage therapist applies soothing, tapping, kneading, and circular strokes on the superficial layers of the muscle using massage lotion or oil. The strokes tend to follow the direction of blood towards the heart, enhancing the flow and assisting in its natural functions.

deep tissue massage

This uses slower strokes, direct pressure, and friction techniques to address chronic muscle tension such as stiff necks, lower back pain, or aching shoulders. It is also useful in addressing pain caused by stress, strain, or injury. While a swedish massage can work on the first few layers of a person's back, a deep tissue massage is required to reach the layers underneath.

Shiatsu

Also known as acupressure, this is a technique that originated from Japan. This type of massage applies finger pressure on acupuncture meridians. Therapists use their thumbs to manipulate the flow of "Qi" and energy in the body following the theories of acupuncture, which literally goes back to thousands of years of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Reflexology

This applies pressure to certain points on the feet, hand, and ears to target corresponding organs and systems in the body. It is meant to promote or stimulate one's internal organs, thereby improving the client's overall body condition.

Sports massage

This kind of massage is adapted from swedish or deep tissue massages, with the intent of meeting special needs of athletes. It involves pre-event massages to warm up muscles and improve circulation, as well as post-event massages to treat injuries and aid in recovery. Massage techniques are typically combinations of different kinds of strokes and pressures. Here are some basic strokes to get you started:

Effleurage

This is a basic open-handed stroke used in swedish massages">swedish massages. Its key characteristics are slow and gentle movements. You start with your fingertips, followed by your fingers and palm until the heel of your hand comes in contact with the body.

Petrissage

This is a kneading stroke that works best on large, meaty muscles. You place both hands down on the muscle with your fingers close together and thumbs extended. The space between your hands should form a triangle. This stroke requires a pinching action as you move your thumb towards your fingers. Take note that you want to pinch the muscle with your palm more than with your fingers.

Friction

This involves working thumbs and fingertips in deep circles into the thickest part of the muscles.It is best for treating small knots in muscles.