Massage therapy is not only for city dwellers. In fact, judging by the number of qualified massage therapists located in southern Illinois, massage is a form of therapy that is quickly moving into the mainstream of rural culture. Therapists in southern Illinois practice a wide array of massage techniques, but most overlap three popular forms of massage: Swedish, deep tissue and trigger point. All three are beneficial to a therapist's clientele, although each technique is utilized to address different health benefits.

The technique of massage given to a client during a given session depends largely upon the client's specific needs and requests. If a client needs stress relief, he or she will be given a different type of massage than a client who is having problems with different muscles, according to massage therapist Patricia Donoho, of Centralia. "The type of massage just depends on why they're coming," Donoho said. "There are times when they will come in and start with a relaxation massage and when they get into the massage, they'll realize there are sore muscles and tender spots that need to be worked out."

The most common form of massage in southern Illinois - and throughout the United States - is the Swedish massage, which is used primarily for stress relief and relaxation. According to the American Massage Therapy Association, Swedish massage is a term that encompasses a system of long strokes, kneading and friction techniques on the more superficial layers of the muscles, combined with active and passive movements of the joints. Swedish massage is a technique that lends itself well to other forms of massage, particularly because the long strokes easily can be incorporated into other techniques. William Connell of Carbondale, who has been practicing massage therapy for 17 years, said the basic tenets of Swedish massage can effectively be applied to most forms of massage therapy. "The long, gliding strokes, medium strokes, direct pressure, percussion - those are all themes of basic Swedish massage, "Connell said. "Some other techniques utilize Swedish massage."

One technique which lends itself well to aspects of Swedish massage is trigger point therapy, Connell said, explaining that the release of a general spasm in problem areas can help loosen connective tissue. "If you don't release a general spasm in the area where you have a knot, the knot is going to continue to return," Connell said. Trigger point therapy utilizes concentrated pressure from the fingers to painful, irritated areas in muscles, known as "trigger points," to break cycles of spasm and pain, according to the American Massage Therapy Association. These trigger points form in muscles that have been strained from overuse, or are recovering from surgery. The main side effect of trigger points is increased muscle tension. Ridding the body of painful trigger points is an important step in massage therapy, Connell said.

"Massage physically manipulates tissue to improve circulation, release stiffness and release trigger point knots, which can be sore to the touch," Connell said. "They can create pain, numbness and referred pain, which can sometimes occur from one point to another where knots typically form." One major area of the body that frequently experiences trigger points are the neck and shoulder, Connell said, explaining that problems with the neck and shoulder area are almost "epidemic." Hours of constantly using the muscles for repetitive motion can have a damaging effect on their health, which is a common problem that sends clients to their massage therapist, Connell said. "Anyone who types on a computer has extra tension in their neck and shoulders and in their hands and wrists. I could work on a room of 100 people and find knots in all 100 people at any given moment," Connell said. The muscles of the back and neck are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of repetitive motion, Connell said, due to their structure. Connell described the trapezius muscle, which is the muscle most frequently used by computer-related activity, as "the most superficial on the back." "They run in a trapezoid shape, starting with the upper part of the spine over the shoulder and attaching to the shoulder," Connell said. "They take a tremendous amount of stress from basic posture stress, and basic computer usage tremendously aggravates that."

Another area which is heavily affected by computer usage and everyday posture can be found at the base of the neck, Connell said. This area contains a large number of nerves, which can make discomfort a big factor for clients who have been afflicted with lower neck problems. "That big bundle of nerves at the base of the skull - all it takes is a slight imbalance in posture to put a lot of stress on the muscles and nerves," Connell said. "This will lead to tension headaches and more significant pain. That area alone is one of the major reasons people take massage, because people want release." While trigger point therapy is used to correct problem areas where muscles and nerves have begun to spasm and cause pain, deep tissue therapy releases chronic patterns of tension throughout the body by using slow strokes - borrowed from Swedish massage - and deep finger pressure on contracted areas. Deep tissue therapy focuses on the deeper levels of muscle tissue below the skin, according to the association, and it can either follow or go against the grain of muscles and tendons in the body.

After a Swedish massage for relaxation shows that a massage to soothe hurt muscles is in order, Donoho said deep tissue massage is often an appropriate solution. Because deep tissue massage is a more intensive session than a relaxation-focused Swedish massage, Donoho said she always talks with patients before beginning a deep tissue massage. "If a client will come back and say, ‘Can you work more on the shoulder that has been bothering me,' I would do a more deep tissue massage, with their consent," Donoho said. "I always try and incorporate both (Swedish massage and deep tissue massage)."

The physical and mental aspects of massage therapy complement one another well, in that a change in one's physical wellness can often mirror a change in mental health. Most massage therapy patients are anxious for a change not only in their physical well-being, but in their emotional health as well, Connell said. Connell, who has been teaching massage therapy at John A Logan College in Carterville for a number of years, teaches his students the importance of combining both aspects of well-being into a massage experience. "Massage stimulates beta endorphins, which are naturally occurring painkillers. This happens both from the physical sensation and the physical pleasure that goes from having human touch," Connell said. "Massage is helpful for a person in terms of just interacting with another human being in a healthy way." More and more people are becoming enamored with the physical and mental benefits of massage, Connell said, explaining that massage therapy has grown in popularity over the last decade or so. "There's been a dramatic shift in the last 15 years about how massage is now a mainstream, healthy lifestyle choice for people," Connell said. "It has gone way beyond being seen as a luxury or something you can do on your own for a vacation. It's become a part of people's lifestyles, for all ages."