On Friday night, Eugene resident Jeremy Walworth injured his ankle. Instead of rushing to the hospital emergency ward, Walworth limped into Rejuvenation Health Spa for a visit with chiropractic physician Eric Hansen.
This is just one example of the expansion of an industry once associated with simple stress relief and relaxation. Massage therapy has officially arrived as an alternative form of treatment with concrete results.
Hansen, who has been administering massages since 1991, said massages are integral to a higher quality of life, and a monthly visit represents a healthy maintenance schedule.
“There are direct health benefits that are part and parcel to massage,” Hansen said. Those benefits can include everything from headache relief to injury recovery.
The term “massage therapy” may be too limited to describe the care options offered by massage therapy establishments such as Rejuvenation. Nowadays, “massage” includes various treatment programs used for much more than muscle tension. So here is a short guide to consider on those long winter days when you rub your neck and sigh, “Man, I could use a massage.”
A Swedish massage is the classic technique generally associated with relieving muscle tension, improving poor circulation and promoting stress relief. This type of massage, considered by many to be the first systematic method used in the Western world, employs long strokes, kneading and friction to flush lactic acid, uric acid and other
metabolic waste from the system — working toward an overall balance of mind and body. This is your all-purpose, any-day-of-the-week massage.
Then there’s the deep-tissue massage. This technique is just what the name implies, focusing on the deeper layers of muscle tissue and releasing chronic tension. It is associated with soreness directly afterward — but practitioners say it ensures long-term wellness if administered correctly.
A sports massage combines elements of Swedish massage, stretching and pressure point work to enhance athletic performance, prevent injuries and promote injury recovery.
Beyond these general categories, are the more obscure — but no less practical — techniques. Eugene is loaded with massage therapy establishments, some of which include the following treatment options:
Finding it difficult to quit smoking? Try a bioenergy detox footbath. This treatment helps release toxins and chemical residues of cigarettes from the system, helping to curb cravings.
A craniosacral massage helps alleviate pain associated with the head and face — great for headaches.
Shiatsu is a full-body technique using gentle pressure and rocking motions to reduce backaches, digestive concerns, and symptoms associated with PMS.
Massage therapy may point to other problems that need addressing in a client’s health. Flaccid muscles can indicate specific nutritional problems. The therapist can refer the client to an herbal consultant or dietitian who can address these needs. This is especially beneficial for students, who survive on a limited budget and often don’t know how to make that budget stretch while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
However, if your body simply won’t cooperate, Rejuvenation has a number of programs to cure what ails you. Owner and kinesiologist Rita Anne Hartmann describes her spa as “one-stop shopping.”
Hartmann said people “shop” at massage establishments for many reasons.
“Just this morning, we had a woman come in after a romantic breakup,” Hartmann said. “She was very emotionally stressed, and had basically been wandering the streets. She came through the door, and an hour later, she left in a very joyful state.”