Types of Massage and Bodywork
New massage modalities or techniques seem to be emerging every year — a mixture of
truly original approaches and close cousins of established techniques. The field is
highly segmented and differentiated. Although this trend fits the individualistic
nature of the field, it may be a source of confusion to consumers. There are as many
as
250 types of massage and bodywork; various techniques use different strokes,
including basic rubbing strokes, rocking movement, posture and movement reeducation,
application of pressure to specific points and more. ABMP’s glossary of some 250
modalities has emerged over our 21 years in this rapidly evolving field. The 20 most
common modalities used by ABMP members (listed here in order from most practiced to least) are:
Swedish massage
Integrative massage
Deep-tissue massage
Reflexology
Reiki
Sports massage
Craniosacral therapy
Stone/La Stone/hot stone/hot rock
Neuromuscular therapy
Myofascial release
Shiatsu
Prenatal/pregnancy massage
Therapeutic massage
Trigger point therapy
Acupressure
Chair massage
Lymph drainage
Deep-tissue integration
Polarity therapy
Thai massage/Thai yoga massage
The top two modalities — Swedish Massage and Integrative Massage — account for
two-thirds of all massage sessions conducted by ABMP members responding to a 2005 ABMP Membership
survey.
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