Massage Therapy Overview

Therapeutic massage, manipulating body tissue with the hands, heals muscles and promotes better circulation. First used over 3,000 years ago by the Chinese, massage therapy was a mainstay among other ancient cultures, including the Greeks, Japanese, Egyptians, Romans and Arabs. A Swedish gymnastics instructor, Per Henrik Ling, developed modern massage therapy in the early 19th century. The Swedish method combined exercise with massage to treat joint and muscle pain. In the 1850s, George and Charles Taylor, two brothers who studied massage in Sweden, brought this method to the U.S. Today it is a common treatment technique.

Three types of hand movements are used by massage therapists. Stroking, which can be light or hard, is meant to relax muscles and improve circulation. Compression—including kneading, squeezing and friction—stretches muscles and tendons to facilitate movement. Percussion, repeatedly striking the massage point with the sides of the hands, improves circulation. Massage therapy is effective for patients who suffer a range of conditions from arthritis to paralysis. It is often used to relieve pain and reduce swelling.

Massage Therapists in Portland

Dana Crawford Massage Therapist	send email
"Feeling stressed out, anxious or overwhelmed? Have an injury caused by trauma, repetitive movement or postural distortion? Whether you seek solace from the stresses of everyday life, relief from pain and discomfort ..." See full profile	3024 NE 63rd Avenue Portland, Oregon 97213 (971) 506-3373
Elizabeth Jackson LMT, RMT Massage Therapist	send email
"If you are under constant STRESS and you are seeking relief from chronic PAIN such as Back Pain, Headaches, TMJ, Shoulder & Neck Pain, Arthritis, Hot Flashes, Sciatica, or Muscle Tension & ..." See full profile	94 Auburn Street Suite 106 Portland, Maine 04103 (207) 878-3003
Kate M. Zahorodni LMT Massage Therapist	send email
"My client base ranges from people with chronic pain and injuries, to people who are just looking to clear their mind from the stresses in life! I do specialize in Swedish, Deep ..." See full profile	234 Main St. Portland, Connecticut 06480 (860) 575-9037
Alix Sheppard Marro BA, LMT Massage Therapist	send email
"I am trained in a variety of modalties, including but not limited to Swedish, Craniosacral Therapy, deep tissue, reflexology, pregnancy massage, aromatherapy, and chair massage. Effective resistive stretching may be incorporated. I ..." See full profile	499 Stevens Ave. # 203 Portland, Maine 04103 (978) 314-0554
Stephanie Glass LMT Massage Therapist	send email
"I would be honored to create a massage especially for you. I feel that each massage should be unique for each person. I have been in practice since 1999 and have gained ..." See full profile	6555 N Fenwick Avenue Portland, Oregon 97217 (503) 880-8905
Jessie Thompson LMT, CA Massage Therapist	send email
"Have you accepted pain as a part of your daily life? Do you want to feel your best AND have the ability to perform at your best? Massage may be exactly what you ..." See full profile	SE Woodstock Blvd Portland, Oregon 97206 (971) 506-8213
David Jacob LMT Massage Therapist	send email
"I have been in practice for over 7 years professionally and have received excellent training in several specific modalities. " See full profile	2534 SE 35th Ave. Portland, Oregon 97202 (503) 522-5550
Gina C James LMT Massage Therapist	send email
"Gina draws upon her expertise as a licensed massage therapist, Reiki master and Spiritual Director to gently guide people to reconnect with their inner wisdom, creativity and joy. Gina"s work transforms challenged ..." See full profile	2538 NE Broadway Suite C Portland, Oregon 97232 (503) 282-8600
Anna Mae Christina Penland LMT, MMP, CCA, NCTMB Massage Therapist	send email
"I believe in revitalizing the essence of your well-being with a holistic approach. Research shows that an important part of staying healthy is to be able to achieve deeper states of relaxation, ..." See full profile	852 SW 21st Avenue Portland, Oregon 97205 (503) 752-3657
Donna Patterson-Kellum LMT Massage Therapist	send email
"Congratulations on finding our website. Bob's been passionately involved in the health field since 1986, and Donna has been immersed in body/energy work since 1990. We incorporate acupuncture and Chinese Herbal medicine ..." See full profile	3046 NE 33rd Avenue Portland, Oregon 97212 (503) 331-7393

Massage Therapists 1 to 10  |  More...