You Can Download This Report Here
As an effective mode of relaxation, a massage can be put at the top of the list. It can ease the body of unwanted stress, tension, and emotional problems. There is a wide range of massage therapies available, and sometimes it’s hard to know which one to use.
There are also bodywork therapies which makes it even more confusing. Depending on what you need, there will be a body massage therapy or bodywork technique, such as Bowen Therapy, that will cater to enhancing your well-being from the outside in.
Many people mistake the Bowen method as being a massage therapy, but it isn’t, as we will explain later. Methods used by massage therapists also range in a variety of styles and techniques and may be enhanced using other therapies, such as essential oils and aromatherapy, music therapy, or heated stones.
There are just as many more methods they use too! One of the most popular massage therapies, well known for its relaxation effect is Swedish Massage Therapy. We’ll discuss that a little later too, as we will be giving you information on a few different massage therapies and also the Bowen technique.
That way you can decide which one may be more suitable for your needs.
There are some similarities and also several differences between massage therapy and the Bowen technique. Both therapies are used to relieve muscle and joint pain.
They are also beneficial in increasing mobility and can help speed up recovery from injuries. However, there are distinct features that further differentiate them. Let’s get started with the Bowen Therapy method.
Bowen Therapy
Bowen Therapy is named after the Australian, Tom Bowen. Bowen Therapy is a gentle, non-invasive, holistic treatment that involves gentle, precise rolling motions applied across the muscles and tendons.
The action targets the fascia (soft connective tissue) – the areas that are frozen – in order to release their restrictions. The aim is to promote pain relief by gently stretching the soft tissue covering the muscles and tendons, ligaments, joints, and nerves.
Bowen Therapy utilizes precise and gentle rolling hand movements at varying speeds and pressure on the different parts of the body. These moves stimulate the nervous system, which then signals the body to let go of the tension, stress, and negative emotions. When the mind is relaxed, the rest of the body follows.
Bowen Therapy works as an aid to resetting the body’s pain response by shutting down the sympathetic nervous system or the fight-or-flight response responsible for stress.
At the same time, it activates our rest-and-digest response or the parasympathetic nervous system. It works towards freeing the body, enabling it to attain its natural state of balance and healing.
Bowen can be used for treating some neurological problems such as chronic conditions and musculoskeletal problems such as acute sports injuries, and many others.
It is gentle and does not exert forceful manipulation. A distinctive feature is the pauses interspersed with manipulations, during each visit. The therapist will walk away after manipulating an area, and then return to manipulate the area if necessary again, or move to a new area.
According to Bowen experts, the pauses are intended to allow the body to naturally heal and reset itself. This is how the body gets to rebalance and recover and function at its best.
The Bowen technique is considered a safe alternative treatment that can be administered to anyone, from babies to the elderly. More specifically it can address musculoskeletal problems and other neuromuscular complaints. Although a holistic treatment, it aims to treat the cause of the problem directly.
Bowen Therapy Sessions
A typical Bowen Therapy session lasts for about 45 minutes, and you are fully clothed the entire time. Expect a session to be similar to most massage sessions, starting with a brief discussion of your current health status.
However, unlike most massage therapies, the therapist in a Bowen Therapy session will leave the room during a session for a particular time. As mentioned above, the break or pause allows the body to fully feel the movements that the therapist has performed and gives the brain time to respond to these actions.
Bowen Therapy can provide amazing results from the moment you end the first session. In many cases, Bowen Therapy is done in several consecutive sessions to really feel its benefits.
Bowen Therapy is effective as a primary treatment for a wide range of physical ailments but can also be used as a complement to a patient’s remedial treatment plan. It can also be applied to address emotional problems including depression, tension, and anxiety issues.
Benefits of Bowen Therapy
Bowen Therapy has reported many positive health benefits, but it is regularly used as a complementary treatment for neck, shoulder, and back pain. However, there are many other positive health benefits, and here are just a few.
- Respiratory conditions, allergies, and hay fever.
- Anxiety, depression, tension, and stress.
- Back Pain – Sciatica, disc problems, etc.
- Sports injury recovery.
- Headaches and migraine.
- Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Sleep disorders.
- Hormonal imbalances and menstrual cramps.
- Hip, foot, knee, and ankle problems.
- Shoulder, elbow, and wrist problems.
Remedial Massage
A remedial massage, also known as a medical massage or sports massage, aims to release tension, increase mobility, and alleviate pain from injuries. Anyone with problems with their muscles, joints, flexibility, and mobility can benefit from a remedial massage.
Remedial massage can also help prevent injuries. Perhaps the most identifiable characteristic of a remedial massage is that it is not typically considered a relaxation type of massage. It is considered more to be a medical treatment.
Unlike the massage you can get from a spa or salon, remedial massage requires a qualified therapist who is well-trained in physiology and pathology to properly target and apply treatment to your muscle and joint pains.
Remedial Massage Sessions
If you book a session your therapist may spend between 30 minutes to an hour, or even longer, depending on your condition. Usually, a 30-minute session is the allotted time frame. Your therapist will know how long you need and how often your visits should be scheduled.
As with any therapy, follow-up treatments keep your body in the best condition. You don’t only need a massage just for an ache or pain. Remedial massage therapists can keep your circulatory system functioning optimally and improve flexibility and mobility.
Take a look at some of the benefits you can expect to achieve.
Remedial Massage Benefits
While remedial massage is commonly utilized in sports settings, anyone can get a remedial massage. Here are some of the benefits of remedial massage.
- Release muscle tension and tightness.
- Increase blood flow and oxygen to promote recovery.
- Flush chemicals from the muscles that may cause pain.
- Heal scar tissues from a post-surgical operation.
- Drain lymph fluid in cancer patients.
- Treat cramps, whiplash, fibrositis, muscular atrophy, and arthritis.
Other Massage Therapy Treatments
There are several massage treatments widely available today catering to every specific need. Most depend on how physically sensitive the patient is. For example, more skin-sensitive elderly people can be vulnerable to a skin flare-up and this must be avoided.
Some massages can be gentle and relaxing, although some people can still feel pain and discomfort from a very light massage.
Although health improvements can be felt, it is rare for a single massage session to drastically resolve and fix deep-seated issues without the need for follow-up treatment. Even though that may be the case, it is an effective natural therapy that is holistic in its approach to healing the mind and body. Now we will cover a few specific massage therapies, starting with another remedial massage.
Trigger Point Myotherapy
Trigger point myotherapy is a specific style of remedial massage and is also known as neuromuscular therapy. It is best suited for patients who are experiencing chronic pain in a specific part of the body or injuries.
It aims to relieve the tension in the muscle tissues, called trigger points, by the use of gentle, broad, flowing strokes to relax stiff muscles all over the body.
The therapist will also apply stronger and deeper pressure on the trigger points to ease pain in other areas of the body. The types of pain recommended for treatment with trigger point myotherapy include back pain and sciatica, neck pain and migraine, and Rheumatoid arthritis.
Other Massage Therapies Used For Pain Management
The consistent wear and tear of our muscles and joints often results in different pains and stiffness throughout the body. Generally, a full-body massage can help alleviate the pain that is triggered by tension and stiffness of the muscles.
So now we are going to cover a few more different types of massage that can cater to a specific type of pain to better improve your condition and overall wellness.
Swedish Massage
One of the most popular types of massage is Swedish massage. A full-body Swedish massage aims to release tension and stiffness in the muscles with long and steady strokes applied in the direction of the blood flow, thus, increasing blood circulation.
After a Swedish massage, patients feel lighter and more relaxed. Ideally, a Swedish massage is best done for the entire body, but the therapist can apply more focus on areas where you feel tighter or tensed.
A Swedish massage is ideal for pain caused by chronic back pain and sciatica, a stiff neck, and arthritis.
Deep Tissue Massage
A deep tissue massage is also referred to as a connective tissue massage. This type of massage uses deep, slow strokes as well as friction to relieve the patient from chronic muscle pain, soreness, or injury.
The deep slow strokes release the tension in the deeper layers of the muscles and the joints and can be used to treat a more specific area in the body that is experiencing a build-up of scar tissue.
Deep tissue massage is recommended for those who are experiencing chronic pain such as back pain and sciatica, and neck pain.
Shiatsu Massage
Shiatsu massage is a Japanese type of gentle massage that makes use of the fingers and palms in applying pressure to the different parts of the body to release muscle tension, increase blood flow and boost energy.
The focus of a shiatsu massage is more on relaxation, stress relief, and overall wellness.
A shiatsu massage is best for those who would like to feel more relaxed. It can also be used to relieve pain for the following health issues.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Migraines, headaches, and sinusitis.
- Neck and back tension.
Traditional Thai Massage
A traditional Thai massage is a healing technique that uses gentle pressure and stretching movements to relax the whole body.
Unlike many types of massage therapies, during which the patient simply lies on the massage bed, in a traditional Thai massage the patient is more involved in the process.
Similar to any type of massage, there are many benefits of a traditional Thai massage, such as lowering stress and releasing muscle tension.
It can also be used to treat pain in the legs and feet (specifically after a long day of walking), Rheumatoid arthritis, as well as migraine and headache.
Conclusion
As you can see, many massage styles address the same types of pain, so you can try them all to see which one is right for you. Now you have seen some of the similarities and differences between massage and Bowen therapy, so if you are specifically looking for pain relief, both remedial massage and Bowen therapy can help you.
If you are seeking more of a gentle approach out of the two, try Bowen Therapy as the therapist only works the fascia layers and is not so physically impacting on the muscles, especially when compared to massage styles such as deep tissue massage.
Some people have described their remedial massage sessions as being quite painful, however, their results have been worth the short-term discomfort.
Whatever your decision, all techniques can help promote health and wellness.
Bowen Therapy and Massage Therapies are non-invasive treatments that make you feel better, alleviate pain and allow you to enjoy your body more.
