Thursday, February 14, 2013

Physical Therapy coupled with Massage Therapy


Physical therapy and massage therapy are two different things. Some people are beginning to ask, are these two forms of therapy complementary with each other?

imagesAbout Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a form of muscle therapy that uses various techniques to increase the function and mobility of the body. These include different therapeutic exercise, massage forms, and muscle manipulation and training. Physical therapists treat patients with mobility problems as a result of accidents, injuries (sports injuries and work injuries,) arthritis, stroke, fractures, as well as multiple sclerosis.

About Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is regarded as one of the oldest forms of physical medicine. Simply put, massage therapy is the rubbing of various points on the body in order to relieve pain or discomfort. Nowadays, the different forms of massage therapy are primarily used to reduce stress as well as improve the function of the various systems. Among the popular types of massage therapy are aromatherapy massage, Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, hot stone massage, sports massage, and shiatsu.


Physical Therapy with Massage Therapy

It may come as a surprise for some but physical therapy and massage therapy complement each other. While physical therapy cannot incorporate long massage sessions because of certain time constraints, massage therapy helps the process of the former run smoothly. It is important, however, that the two fields be distinguished from each other even if they work together. Physical therapy focuses on strengthening of the muscles through mechanical methods and sometimes electrical stimulation. Massage therapy, on the other hand, focuses on softening restricted muscle tissues.

Both physical and massage therapists agree that if physical therapy and massage therapy were to be combined, progress can be achieved faster. Normally, an hour of massage treatment is an hour spent towards the road of health, wellness, and relaxation. Imagination how beneficial this can be to a physical therapy patient.

In sum, massage therapy can be integrated with a physical therapy program.  It can help physical therapy achieve its goal of improving mobility and range of muscle movement by improving the efficiency of the body's systems, as well as relieving stress, anxiety, and pain.

Physical therapy and massage therapy improve a person’s quality of life. But in order to do so, the massage therapist or physical therapist should be qualified and licensed to perform the treatment. Make sure you find a professional in your area to experience the benefits of these therapies.



Massage Envy South Tampa 
3830 W. Neptune St. C-2 MM# 16263, Tampa, FL 33629 

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