Although massage is one of the most common forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), there is no systematically oriented review that focuses specifically on the effectiveness of different massage techniques in PD. Massage therapy is used to help manage a health condition or improve well-being. It involves manipulating the soft tissues of the body. Massage has been practiced in most cultures, both Eastern and Western, throughout human history, and was one of the first tools people used to try to relieve pain.
Complementary and alternative medicine includes practices such as massage, acupuncture, tai chi and drinking green tea. Massage therapy dates back many thousands of years. With such a long history in societies and cultures around the world, it has become a new medicine and is often a complementary form. Although it still has its conventional uses, massage therapy is a more widely accepted alternative medicine in the modern era.
When people think of massage, most tend to think about relaxation and well-being, although the term itself encompasses a number of different meanings and the use of the technique. In general, healing circulates throughout the body as the massage therapist or therapist presses, rubs, and manipulates the muscles with his hands and fingers. Other types of massage are also known to use forearms, elbows and, occasionally, feet to apply more specific amounts of pressure. During the massage, a therapist manipulates the muscles and other soft tissues of the body to improve health and well-being.
Massage varieties range from gentle stroking and kneading of muscles and other soft tissues to deeper manual techniques. Massage has been practiced as a healing therapy for centuries in almost every culture in the world. It helps to relieve muscle tension, reduce stress and evoke feelings of calm. Although massage affects the whole body, it has a particular influence on the activity of the musculoskeletal, circulatory, lymphatic and nervous systems.
