Swedish VS Therapeutic Massage

My amazing father-in-law and his amazing wife got me a very sweet gift card for a Wellness RX place almost 2 years ago, I just haven’t found the time to get one (thank God the gift card doesn’t expire!) So I’ve finally started to look at dates and what to get and I didn’t know the difference between 2 of the massage types. Welp, I’ve done the hard work for you in case you were wondering the same thing! Also, check out if you have a Wellness RX near you, they look FANTASTIC! If not, any massage place should offer these.

Wellness RX

Swedish massage and therapeutic massage are both types of massage therapy techniques, but they differ in their goals and approaches. Here’s a breakdown of their key differences:

Swedish Massage:

1. Goals: Swedish massage aims to promote relaxation, improve circulation, relieve muscle tension, and enhance overall well-being. It is primarily focused on relaxation and stress reduction.
2. Techniques: It involves using long gliding strokes, kneading, tapping, friction, and vibration motions applied with the hands, forearms, or elbows. Effleurage (long, sweeping strokes), petrissage (kneading and squeezing), and tapotement (rhythmic tapping) are commonly used techniques.
3. Pressure: The pressure used in Swedish massage can range from light to moderate, depending on the client’s preference and needs.
4. Benefits: Swedish massage can help reduce muscle tension, improve flexibility, promote relaxation, relieve stress, and enhance circulation.

Therapeutic Massage:

1. Goals: Therapeutic massage is more focused on addressing specific musculoskeletal issues, injuries, or chronic conditions. It aims to alleviate pain, reduce muscle tension, increase range of motion, and promote healing.
2. Techniques: Therapeutic massage incorporates a variety of techniques tailored to the individual’s needs. These may include deep tissue massage, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, stretching, and joint mobilization.
3. Pressure: Therapeutic massage typically involves deeper pressure and more focused work on specific areas of the body where the client is experiencing pain or discomfort. However, the pressure can still be adjusted based on the client’s comfort level.
4. Benefits: Therapeutic massage can help relieve chronic pain, reduce muscle tension and knots, improve flexibility, aid in injury recovery, enhance athletic performance, and provide targeted relief for specific conditions.

In summary, Swedish massage is primarily focused on relaxation and general well-being, using lighter pressure and broader techniques. On the other hand, therapeutic massage is more targeted and employs deeper pressure to address specific issues, injuries, or chronic conditions. The choice between the two depends on your personal goals and needs.