Massage therapy is a manipulation of the soft tissues (primarily muscle and connective tissue) of the body. It strives to achieve balance and health in the body by affecting the body's systems. A registered massage therapist will assess soft tissues and joints of the body for treatment and prevention of dysfunction, injury, pain and physical disorders.
Treatment varies widely depending on the type of massage specialty used. Treatment will relax, release stress, or gently tone muscle. Trigger point work and myofascial work release tension, stress, scarring, or restriction in the complex myofascial network of the body. Many of the effects of massage treatment have been identified as effective in treating acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions. Massage can significantly accelerate the healing process by having a positive affect on the circulatory and lymphatic systems.