Massage therapy

Massage therapy is a therapeutic practice involving the manipulation of soft tissues in the body, such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments, to enhance a person's health and well-being

Massage therapy is hands-on technique that involves kneading, rubbing and applying pressure to the muscles and soft tissues of the body. Massage can relieve tension and pain, heal sports injuries, reduce stress, ease anxiety or depression, and promote a sense of relaxation.

Most massage treatments are based on the Swedish massage consisting of five basic techniques; effleurage (stroking), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (percussion) and vibration and compression.

Training

There is no legal training requirements in the UK for massage therapists, however it’s essential to be properly trained and qualified to at least Level 3 Diploma in Massage, Sports Massage Therapy or Complementary Therapies to be able to practise safely.

The Council for Soft Tissue Therapies (GCMT) is the governing body that sets the industry standard for massage therapy training courses in the UK, and recommends a full-time course that lasts at least six months. Qualifications are generally available as a college course or apprenticeship covering practical and theoretical aspects of massage, including anatomy and physiology.

Regulation

Although there’s no professional statutory regulation of complementary and alternative treatments in the UK, massage therapy is a recognised profession by the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), a voluntary regulator of complementary healthcare practitioners. The CNHC has an accredited register with the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

Types of massage therapy

Aromatherapy massage incorporates the use of essential oils with therapeutic massage to enhance relaxation, pain management, or to improve mood.
Deep tissue massage is often used to treat musculoskeletal issues and uses firmer pressure to target the deeper muscle layers in areas where you have injury or pain.
Hot stone massage uses the heat of flat, hot stones in addition to massage, to help increase blood flow to target areas to improve healing and enhance overall wellbeing.
Indian head massage is a traditional method that focuses on acupressure points along the head, neck, and shoulders to reduce tightness in the scalp and upper body.
Lymphatic drainage massage uses light pressure to target the lymphatic system that lies under the skin to move fluids around the body to reduce swelling and pain.
Remedial massage offers rehabilitation techniques to target specific 'problem areas' in the body and is often an ongoing treatment offered over a number of sessions.
Shitasu massage is a form of bodywork from Japan that focuses on pressure points to bring balance to the body using acupressure and muscle meridian stretching.
Sports massage is used to treat injuries and will include more complex muscle energy methods, trigger points or specialist stretching movements.
Swedish massage is a gentle full-body massage to alleviate pain and promote relaxation and forms the basis for most therapeutic massage treatments.
Thai massage uses stretches and yoga poses to improve energy flow throughout the whole body, increase flexibility, ease back pain and reduce stress and anxiety.

Professional bodies

In addition to the CNHC, you may want to join a professional association in your specialism, including:

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