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Differences That You May Notice Between Acupressure And Massage

If you're someone who enjoys getting massages regularly, you may find yourself sitting in the waiting room of your massage therapy clinic and browsing a brochure about what other services the clinic's practitioners offer. One term that may catch your eye is acupressure, and you may feel compelled to give this therapy a try in the future. If you're used to getting massages, there are some similarities between massage and acupressure — namely, the hands-on approach that your practitioner will take with you. However, there are also a lot of differences that you should expect.

More Use Of Acute Pressure

Depending on how you like your massages, you may find that the therapist uses dull pressure on various parts of your body. This can be the case because the therapist may use the heels of his or her hands, or perhaps even his or her forearms, to exert pressure. If you book an acupressure session, you'll notice this difference right away. In acupressure, there's more of an emphasis on acute pressure. Your therapist will characteristically use his or her fingers and thumbs to push on specific areas. This means that you'll feel the pressure more directly in a given area, rather than duller and spread across a larger region of your body.

More Holding

When you have a massage, your therapist will generally keep his or her hands moving for much of the treatment. Whether the therapist is kneading the muscles, rolling his or her hands over them, or performing another similar movement, you're likely used to a smooth, sweeping movement during your appointment. When you have an acupressure appointment, however, there will be more holding of pressure on certain areas. For example, if your practitioner is addressing a point between your thumb and index finger, he or she may push on the area for several seconds, rather than moving around the area.

Indirect Concentration On Certain Areas

In massage, your therapist will work directly on the area that is ailing you. For example, if you have a tight neck, you can expect that much of the massage will focus on working the neck muscles. In acupressure, practitioners may focus on one area to relieve an issue that affects a different part of your body. The belief is that your body has a number of points that affect different areas, which means that if you're suffering from headaches, for example, the practitioner may push on your toes.

To learn more, contact a business like Academy Spine & Physical Therapy.


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