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 San Francisco

Jeremy Strickland, CMT Massage Therapist	send email
"If you are experiencing pain, discomfort, or a lack of energy, I can help. The treatments I provide integrate over 14 years of professional experience with modern therapeutic massage techniques, energy therapies ..." See full profile	297 Divisadero San Francisco, California 94117 (415) 341-6288
Kate Melanie Jones RMT, CMT Massage Therapist	send email
"I combine my skills to work as a somatics practitioner and educator with massage & movement therapies, medical intuition, and counseling. With over 21 years in the mindbody integration field. I work ..." See full profile	1850 Union Street #6 San Francisco, California 94123 (415) 931-5148
Paul M Domaleski AMTA Massage Therapist	send email
"Hi, I'm Paul and welcome to SF Real Massage. I view massage therapy as a sacrament. I believe that massage is a gift from one person to another. It is also one ..." See full profile	491 Castro Street San Francisco, California 94114 (415) 865-0136
Katy Dreyfuss Massage Therapist	send email
"At A Piece of Peace Massage and Reflexology, our certified massage therapists meet your specific needs with diverse massage and reflexology techniques. Athletic, relaxation, pain mangement, and prenatal massage are our specialties. ..." See full profile	3819 23rd Street San Francisco, California 94114 (415) 647-2188
Adam Gordon LMT Massage Therapist	send email
"I opened Oxygen Massage because I believe that massage is a powerful tool to relax the mind and heal the body. With over 1200 hours of training in sports, trigger point, deep ..." See full profile	3389 22nd Street San Francisco, California 94110 (415) 738-7708
Matthias Putz NLC, PhT, CPT, MBW Massage Therapist	send email
"Integrative and 'Hands On' Therapies, Nutrition, Lifestyle & Fitness Consultations, Coaching and Education for Optimal Health & Extraordinary Vitality______Accelerate Recovery from Health Challenges, Injuries, Spine & Joint Problems______Increase Athletic Performance, Fitness, Prevent ..." See full profile	San Francisco, California 94129
Premo O'Brien CMT Massage Therapist	send email
"Hi to everyone. My name is Premo. I work in an Esalen, Deeper, Yogainspired and Holistic Style. I employ a quality Deep Work with slow focus on back, shoulders and harmstrings. My nurturing ..." See full profile	San Francisco, California 94109

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