The very word "massage" is believed to have originated from the arabic for "to press". Although many other languages would seem to contribute to the word. For example, in France "masser" means "to gather" and the word "massein" in Greek means "to knead" both describe movements and techniques carried out during massage therapy.
Massage is a method used to influence soft tissue manipulation of the body - particularly muscles, involving systematic rubbing via the application of hands on techniques which have been developed over thousands of years from many cultures throughout the world.
The Hindus and Persians, the Greeks and the Romans, the Egyptians, the natives of the South Pacific islands, Native Americans and the Laplanders and Finns have all employed, maintained and developed the art of massage over the years, but it is a Chinese medical book, written by the Yellow Emperor of China, dated around 2000BC, which is believed to be the first recorded account of the use of massage. In years gone by, the Chinese and other Eastern practitioners were only paid if their patients remained healthy!
However, all the massage techniques used bear French names. This is because it was the French who translated the ancient Chinese medical book, and in doing so, provided the names, still used today, for all the stokes and techniques applied during massage therapy. Effleurage (to brush against/to touch upon), Tapotement (to pat/tap), Petrissage (to knead) for example.
It was not until around 500BC that documented evidence of the use of massage appeared in the west, in the writings of Hippocrates (Greek physician). In Roman times, massage was used for treating stiff, sore muscles and joints, improving circulation and curing disease. Gladiators were given a massage before and after fighting and Julius Caesar, the Roman Emperor (who suffered from epilepsy) insisted on a daily massage as he felt it helped him to cope with his labours. The Cherokee, Penias and Navaho indians were among the tribes which rubbed their warriors before they went to war and also when they returned.
The modern massage of today (Swedish Massage) however, is based on techniques and methods developed by Professor Per Henrik Ling (1776-1839),a Swedish physiologist and fencing master, hence the term Swedish massage. Ling studied in China in the 18th and 19th century and developed a system of movements he found helped him maintain his own health and physical condition. In 1838, a year before Ling died, a Swedish Institute, teaching his methods, opened in London and it is his pupils in Europe who are thought to have made his methods known throughout the world.
Towards the end of the 19th century, the word massage was often used in relation with prostitution and associated with erotic connotations so for several years was not taken too seriously until a handful of women founded The Society of Trained Masseuses in 1884. This later went on to become known as the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and in the two world wars massage was used to treat nerve injury and for rehabilitation. It was around this time however, that mechanical methods of treatment began to replace the manual hands on techniques and consequently led to a reduction in the use of therapeutic hands on massage which, in turn, resulted in a lack of awareness of its benefits.
Massage has once again, over the years, become a reputable and recognised therapy due to the interest and awareness of its benefits from complimentary therapists. Although many methods exist today, Swedish massage remains the basis for most practice. It is still however, by the layperson, thought of as of use to the human only and until fairly recently, very little information existed on how massage may benefit other species.
It is thanks to the likes of Mary Bromiley FCSP, SRP, RPT (USA), leading Chartered Physiotherapist for humans, horses and dogs that massage therapy and its benefits to horses have been brought to the fore. Mary, renowned world wide for her work as an equine physiotherapist, pioneered the transference of physiotherapeutic methods from the human to the equine athlete and set up the first rehabilitation centre for horse and rider in this country over 20 years ago.
