Complementary Alternative Cardiovascular Medicine

164 Alternative Cardiovascular Medicine
positions for approx 5 min each while channeling Ki or life energy. This
is believed to balance the body’s energy.
Rolfing: A form of deep-tissue pressure massage that promotes wellbeing
and soft-tissue manipulation through deep manipulation. This
technique aims to balance the whole body into vertical alignment and
increase range of motion.
Shiatsu: Based in traditional Chinese medicine, this system is based on
the body’s energy meridians, somewhat related to acupuncture. This
procedure is achieved by applying pressure on various points throughout
the body to influence and stimulate energy flow.
Swedish massage: This is primarily designed to relax muscles. The
strokes and manipulations of Swedish massage are each conceived as
having specific therapeutic benefits. One of the primary goals of Swedish
massage is to speed venous return from the extremities. Swedish
massage is believed to shorten recovery time from muscular strain by
enhanced local blood flow increasing the clearance, from the muscles,
of lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolites. Because it can help to
reduce emotional and physical stress, it is often recommended as part
of a regular program for stress management.
Trager: A gentle therapy that employs light rocking, stretching, and
swinging-type movements to achieve deep relaxation and a sense of
well-being.
SUMMARY
Massage therapy can have a significant effect on the health and functioning
of the body and potentially has beneficial effects on multiple
organ systems. Of course, it is not the preeminent answer for most serious
medical problems. A knowledge of the indications, contradictions,
and precautions is necessary to provide safe and effective massage. There
is no greater gift than that of nurturing touch to patients that is provided
by successfully integrating massage therapy, as an adjunct modality,
with mainstream medicine.
STATUS OF THE PROFESSION
Educational requirements vary tremendously from state to state and
from school to school. The national education requirements are 500 to
650 h of training. Today, it is more common that massage programs are
1000 h, with an associate degree-equivalent to a 2-yr program.
REFERENCES
1. Tarver M. A historical perspective of massage. In: Massage Therapy Principles and
Practice. W B Saunders, Philadelphia, 1999, pp. 4–8.