The Difference Between Medical Massage and Wellness Massage

When it comes to general well-being, medical massage therapy and wellness massage both have their place. While medical massage is more focused on solving a specific problem, wellness massage helps clients relax and relieves stress. Both are important for your health, but they have different approaches. The main difference between medical massage and spa massage is the purpose.

Medical massage is a form of medical treatment, while spa massage is a form of indulgence and stress relief. Both offer different benefits, but the approach is what sets them apart. It's important to understand that the type of modality practiced, such as Swedish, myofacial release, deep tissue, neuromuscular facilitation, sports, trigger point therapy or lymphatic drainage, does not make one modality or category of massage better than another. A spa massage therapist and a medical or clinical masseuse can practice all types of modalities in both industries.

Wellness massage is the type of massage therapy most people think of when they think of a spa day or relaxing tense and sore muscles. Massage therapists will often have the methods and specialties preferred to meet their objectives. Evaluations are required to ensure that the medical massage therapist has the knowledge necessary to work and excel in the field. Massage has been shown to help treat a number of ailments, such as back pain, surgical recovery, sleep and eating disorders, and even high blood pressure and diabetes.

These types of massages focus on the entire body and act methodically on the entire body until they cover all parts. Medical massage therapists and spa massage therapists administer massages for different purposes. A medical massage is ordered by your doctor to help with a specific problem, while a spa massage is received for relaxation purposes. Standard massage education consists of approximately 500 hours of training, which is enough experience to start practicing massages in a spa.

Massage therapists have rigorous training and experience and use techniques to help patients achieve specific results. Massage therapists will see their medical massage patients frequently and will record their progress as they work to improve the patient's condition. At Barkley Massage & chiropractic you have access to both medical and wellness massage therapies as you need or want them.

Mark Szymonik
Mark Szymonik

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