Knowledge of Massaging Connective Tissue
Elizabeth Dicke (1884-1952), a German physical therapist, invented the Connective Tissue Massage (CTM) technique in 1928 (Goats & Keir, 1991). In the late 1920s, She suffered from a blood vessel infection, which impeded her right leg (Isler) circulation. Following the back treatment, she experienced “a sense of tingling and warmth” in her leg after using stretching strokes on her back to alleviate lumbosacral pain (Goats & Keir, 1991) She continued the stretches in her back and other areas and significantly improved the circulation in her hip, as well as her kidney and liver (Isler) issues. From that moment on she started studying and evolving this new healing style (Isler).
WHERE THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE IN YOUR COMPANY?
Connective tissue is the soft tissue that surrounds each and every object in the body, supports, protects and binds them.
Your body contains a continuous sheath of connective tissue, called “fascia,” which provides the skeleton and soft tissue structural support (muscles , tendons, etc.).
Gravity, injury , disease, emotional distress and other stressors affect the fascia, producing an imbalance in the network of connective tissues. Fascia imbalance usually manifests as tightening, or shortening of the sheath of the connective tissue (which makes your body feel as if the muscles are extremely tight). This is also felt anywhere in the body as pain , stiffness, discomfort or decreased flexibility.
When the fascia is excessively shortened, it lacks flexibility and strength so that the body can't fully relax, even though it's “resting.”
Health Care
Connective tissue massage has both local and general physiological impacts on the body (Goats & Keir, 1991). Locally, CTM helps relieve subacute or chronic inflammation and minimize discomfort by eliminating nocigenic chemicals from tissue in the manipulating areas (Goats & Keir, 1991). CTM also physiologically affects the general body by benefiting the deep tissue away from the superficial stimulation area along with an increase in flood flow and a reduction in pain (Goats & Keir 1991).
In particular, CTM relieves chronic tension, increases mobility and flexibility, improves posture and improves self-confidence (Hunter). It is also used by relieving fascia strain and tension around joints (Hunter) in preventing and recovering from various lesions. In addition , chronic symptoms and neuromusculoskeletal disorders such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, tendonitis, and sciatica (Institute for Structural Integration; Hunter) are helpful to alleviate.
Deep connective tissue massage is a form of intense massage aimed at releasing restrictions on myofascial (connective tissue) in the body and breaking up any restrictive scar tissue. It was also known to help relieve chronic tension, increase the range of motion of the body, improve posture and enhance the natural harmony of the body and mind as a whole.
Deep connective tissue massage is also said to restore the length and flexibility of the fascia (the fibrous tissue that surrounds the muscles and organs), by normalizing the tissue and by improving the strength and overall health of the entire fascial system (connective tissues throughout the body).
For more information about visit here: Massage in Al Barsha
