Different Types of Massage – What do They Mean?

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There are many benefits to regular massage. At Bodylab, we offer different types of massage to best target your specific needs and offer relief. If you’re not sure which style of massage would benefit you most, we’ve outlined the key differences below to help make your decision an easier one.

​Swedish Massage – Generally used for relaxation purposes, Swedish massage focuses on enhancing the parasympathetic nervous system. This involves long soothing strokes that allow the patient to enter a very relaxed state. It often concentrates on the entire body, and is the more common form of massage.
 
Deep Tissue Massage – When a patient has a specific area of complaint, deep tissue massage is used to target the problem. Deeper techniques will often be interspersed with lighter techniques to soothe the trouble areas. This type of massage helps with range of motion, pain release, and eases tightness.
 
Sports Massage – Normally for athletes and those with an active lifestyle, sports massage can also be used for patients who have a specific complaint. The technique used it often called “muscle release therapy”, and involves putting the targeted muscles through a full range of motion to lengthen them and allow the trigger points to be treated.
 
Pregnancy Massage – An expectant mother’s body goes through a great deal of change during the 9 months she is pregnant. Pregnancy massage is effective for decreasing discomfort, treating swelling, and helping with associated low back pain.
 
Lymphatic Massage – Lymph nodes are located throughout the body, and are very important. They house cells that collect and destroy bacteria, and the lymphatic system also helps to bring blood plasma to different parts of the body to be filtered. When there are issues with the lymphatic system, this can cause uncomfortable, painful swelling. Lymphatic massage is a slow technique that will help the lymph move towards the heart to facilitate proper filtration.
 
If any of these techniques sound beneficial to your current needs, book your next massage appointment with Bodylab – give us a call at 905 228 3130, or book online.