At the end of a stressful week, a relaxing massage might be just what you need. For people coping with injuries or chronic pain, however, massage therapy can serve as a form of替代药物不仅仅是一个舒缓的待遇。几家10人在10人中使用了治疗按摩，包括许多条件，包括压力，焦虑，pain和运动伤害。
One survey revealed that about 60 percent of those who used massage therapy felt that, in combination with standard medical care, it could improve their health.
按摩疗法：它是什么？
在按摩疗法中，训练有素的治疗师对肌肉和其他软组织施加压力，以帮助治愈潜在的条件。有80多种不同形式的按摩疗法，包括尖头，瑞典，压力点和深组织按摩。按摩通常旨在减少疼痛，放松肌肉，让血液和氧气自由地流动到身体的该区域。
Healing techniques involving massage are thousands of years old and have been mentioned in ancient texts from Egypt, Rome, China, Greece, India, and Japan.
按摩疗法：它何时使用？
Massage therapy can be used to address a number of different health problems, including sports injuries and chronic pain. “Musculoskeletal problems, pre- or post-surgical treatment, lymphedema [excessive fluid buildup that often occurs in the arms or legs] — those all are probably most effectively treated by massage,” says Ron Schneeweiss, professor of family medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. According to Schneeweiss, massage therapy is the type of alternative medicine most often acceptable to conventional doctors.
按摩疗法：它有效吗？
按摩疗法已被证明在不同程度上有效。按摩可以提供帮助：
- 缓解癌症患者的疼痛。研究了380名具有晚期癌症的成人，其中一些人在临终关怀护理，表明按摩疗法由训练有素的按摩治疗师提供，有助于降低患者的痛苦并改善他们的情绪。
- 缓解腰痛。Therapeutic massage has been shown to be useful in alleviating lower背疼。
- 缓解偏头痛。一些研究表明，按摩疗法与其他治疗组合，可以帮助抵消与之相关的疼痛偏头痛和其他慢性头痛。
- 减少肩痛。肩部按摩已被证明有助于减少疼痛和改善运动范围。
- 减少与腕管综合征相关的疼痛和症状。One small study showed that a 15-minute professional massage once a week for four weeks, with additional self-massage therapy at home, improved pain and muscle weakness due to腕管综合症。
- Ease fibromyalgia symptoms.一些研究支持使用按摩疗法来减少女性肌肉僵硬和疼痛纤维肌痛。
虽然按摩疗法有很少的副作用，患有血凝块的人，往往容易出血或瘀伤，或者有骨折的风险应该在调度治疗按摩之前与他们的医生联系。在进行按摩疗法之前，孕妇也应该与医生交谈。
按摩疗法：我应该期待什么？
按摩疗法课程通常持续30到60分钟，但可能持续两小时。一些按摩治疗师可以来到你家或工作;其他人可能要求您在诊所，医院或健身中心访问他们的办公室。
A massage therapist usually creates a tranquil atmosphere, with calming music, relaxing scents, and soft lighting. Fully or partially clothed, you will lie on a specially designed massage table or sit in a specially designed chair.
执照的按摩治疗师通常收到least 500 hours of training and must pass nationalized exams. Don't hesitate to ask for details about a massage therapist's training or background in working with clients who have your same health condition. Keep in mind that some massage therapists are more experienced than others.
“按摩治疗师不一定会收到这些先进的治疗按摩技术中所需的培训，”Schneewe队观察。例如，按摩治疗师的工作cancer patientsshould undergo additional training in the techniques of oncology massage.
如果您正在寻找许可按摩治疗师，请向医生询问推荐或访问American Massage Therapy Association Web site。
