This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own. Stiff shoulders? Aching back? Add the usual aches and pains that come along with age, arthritis, sports injuries and the strain of hunching over a computer all day, and the result is a body crying out for a therapeutic massage.
Several businesses in the Racine area offer therapeutic massages provided by licensed massage therapists. Massage feels good, of course, but it also does a body good. There are several types of massages, among them Swedish, deep tissues, myofascial and hot stone.
In a Swedish massages, the most common type, the therapist applies a series of kneading, circular and sweeping strokes. In a deep tissue massage, the therapist applies a firmer pressure to treat stubborn muscle tension. In a myofascial massage, the therapist concentrates on massaging connective ligaments. People get massages for various reasons, noted Sack. They may have arthritis or sports injuries or tension from sitting at a desk for hours a day.
However, a therapeutic massage can benefit everyone, not just those with specific aches and pains, the therapists stressed. A monthly massage is optimal for keeping muscles and connective tissue supple, said Shaw, although persons may need one more often.
Many therapeutic massage businesses sell gift certificates or discounted multiple session packages. Although most insurers do not cover massages, clients can use money in pre-tax health spending accounts to pay for therapeutic massages. In addition, an insurer may cover massage therapy for a person who gets a prescription for therapeutic massage from his or her physician.
