Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M. Massage is the treatment and practice of manipulation of the soft body tissues with physical, functional, i. Massage can be applied with the hands , fingers , elbows , forearm , and feet. There are over eighty different massage modalities. In professional settings, massage involves the client being treated while lying on a massage table, sitting upright in a massage chair , or lying on a pad on the floor. Except for modalities such as Acupressure , Shiatsu , Tui Na , Thai Massage , or Barefoot Deep Tissue , the massage subject is generally unclothed or partially unclothed , also referred to as disrobed, and their body would be "draped" with towels or sheets.
Writings on massage have been found in many ancient civilizations such as Rome , Greece , Japan , China , Egypt , and India. One of the bas reliefs decorating the temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia , dated circa , depicts a demon performing such an abortion upon a woman who has been sent to the underworld.
This is believed to be the oldest known visual representation of abortion. United States: Massage started to become popular in the United States in the middle part of the s [ 5 ] and was introduced by two New York physicians based on Per Henrik Ling 's techniques developed in Sweden. During the s and s massage's influence decreased because of recent medical advancement, while in the s massage's influence grew once again with a notable rise among athletes. Because it is illegal to advertise or offer sexual services in most of the United States, such services are sometimes advertised as "massage".
United Kingdom: Massage is popular in the United Kingdom today and gaining. There are many private practitioners working from there own premises as well as those who operate from commercial venues. Massage in sports, business and organizations: The Summer Olympics in Atlanta was the first time that massage was offered as a core medical service. Department of Justice , Boeing and Reebok. A typical commercial massage table has an easily cleaned, heavily padded surface, and a horseshoe-shaped head support that allows the client to breathe easily while lying face down and can be stationary or portable.
An orthopedic pillow or bolster can be used to correct body positioning. Ergonomically designed massage chairs for positioning a person who will be receiving a massage, similar in function to a massage table.
