Lately, in all the various professional publications, including professional associations, there were intensive discussions involving terms like Medical Massage, Therapeutic Massage, Orthopedic Massage and Sports Massage.

It is a well-known fact that most arguments are sparked because of the difference in terminology. In my opinion, the term Medical Massage and Therapeutic Massage means the same thing. I am fairly optimistic that every dictionary will support my position. We are massage therapists, which means we provide therapy by means of massage. Therapy means health benefits to the human body and that is what medical massage therapy stands for. I call the methods I teach and practice - Medical Massage. I do this by a simple reason – because the founders and researchers who developed these methods called them Medical Massage.

Massage Therapy encompasses different disciplines, specializations and expertise. For example, Full Body Medical Stress Management Massage associates important methods in managing side effects of stress, including high blood pressure, anxiety, tension headaches, ulcers as well as prevention of aforementioned pathologies. Orthopedic Massage is also a Medical/Therapeutic Massage that deals with procedures designed to treat back & limb disorders that could be results of sports related injuries, industrial injuries, car accidents and etc… Another area of expertise is the Sports Massage including pre and post event sports massage procedures. Pre-event sports massage helps us prepare athletes to perform better as well as prevent sports related injuries. Post-event sports massage is series of methods that focuses on rehabilitating professional athletes and gym enthusiasts from the side effects of vigorous exercise and overtraining.

I believe that scientifically designed step-by-step protocols are much easier to study than selection of techniques based on spontanous asperations. Step-by-step protocols promising faster and more sustained results as well as preventing practitioners from aggravating their clients’ conditions. For a field practitioner it’s irrelevant whether to label our methods as “Medical Massage”, “Therapeutic Massage” or “Massage Therapy.” What is important is to realize that massage therapy is a simple, powerful and safe therapeutic tool.

Recently, I had a conversation with a massage therapist who is not my graduate but takes a lot of my advanced continued education classes. Incidentally, this practitioner also had a strong background in marketing. His opinion was that my medical massage programs are so valuable that students, like in any other school, should be required to pass an interview and an entrance exam in order to be accepted into my school, especially for advance classes. My reply was that I believe in a simple approach to medical and sports massage. Everyone regardless of their academic background, who wants to treat people with their hands, should have an opportunity to become a massage therapist. What sets a good therapist apart is not his/her ego; social status, intellectual level, ethnic background etc., but the ability to deliver results.

Based on my experience of educating more than 7500 students, I have come to the conclusion that in the beginning of the training process it is very difficult to predict, which individual will be better practitioner. To discover one’s potential as healer, it takes will, desire and dedication, right philosophical approach and understanding. My hope is that this book will help you to discover the right direction in discovering of your true potential.

History of modern Medical Massage.

The foundations of modern medical massage were set in the early 20th century with Anatoly Sherbak - a leading Russian physician and scientist of the time. Spending more than 20 years in research and clinical studies, Sherbak investigated and developed medical massage procedures as a powerful reflexotherapy method.

His basic approach was to eliminate abnormalities in reflex zones — specific areas that include the skin, muscles, connective tissue, periosteum, which could be result of inner organ diseases as well support and movement system disorders.

He believed that inner organ diseases transmit pathological impulses via a given spinal segment of innervation to the various somatic structures on that segmental level. As a result of these pathological impulses, abnormalities develop in all structures of those particular reflex zones, and are expressed in the form of higher skin density, muscular tension, developing of trigger points, high tension and immobility of connective tissue, hypertrophy or atrophy of the periosteum. These abnormalities cause pain, discomfort, limited range of motion and a variety of other symptoms. When diseased inner organs are the cause of abnormalities, the reflex phenomenon is termed "viscero-somatic reflex."

At the same time, spinal disorders such as spondylosis can promote the development of abnormalities in the reflex zone — in both somatic and visceral components. The pathological impulse generated by such a disorder can not only cause pain at its somatic origin, but also reach inner organs and disturb their function. This reflex phenomenon is termed somato-visceral reflex. Hippocrates, the "father of medicine," once said, "If a patient has a health problem, first check his spine." There is much truth in this statement.

According to Sherbak, the application of medical massage techniques by a practitioner helps to eliminate abnormalities from somatic elements, which will then reduce pain and increase range of motion. Additionally, a therapeutic effect on inner organs via medical massage application can be observed.

It is very important to understand that abnormalities in skin, fascia, periosteum couldn’t always be detected because of needed time for incubation. On other hand, any inner organ disease, stress or support and movement system disorder, causes muscles reflect almost immediately. In any of the scenarios mention above all components of soft tissue (skin, fascia, muscle, other connective tissue) are still biologically active zones. By mobilizing this soft tissue we awaken significant positive changes in function of organs and systems.

Sherbak died in 1936, leaving a tremendous database of research behind. Before his death, he made appearances before various European medical community gatherings. He asked physicians and scientists to take over his database and continue his work in developing medical massage procedural protocols.

Two German physicians, O. Glezer and V.A. Dalicho, answered the call. They spent an additional 20 years on medical massage studies and clinical work. In 1955, Glezer and Dalicho introduced a complete medical massage protocol to the medical community.

Nowadays technology develops so fast that people constantly experiencing something new. The most advanced computer you’ve purchased six months ago is not so advanced today. The same could be said about cellular phones, entertainment equipment etc. To expect something new and advanced became the "normal" pattern of thinking to the point that if we don’t get this “newest”, “latest and greatest” gadget we feel somewhat inadequate almost deprived.

Once I submitted an article to the professional publication on the following topic -”The Role of massage therapy in stress and pain management.” As part of the article I’ve offered the results of studies related to massive negative effect of stress on human health andUnited States economy. This study was conducted by very reputable institution and the paper was published in 1996.

The editor of the publication requested to find the more recent data. I responded to him that I tried to query for a more current data but couldn't find an equally reliable source of information to the one I offered. I also stated that should the new study be conducted today, the negative affects of stress would exceed those stated in the study of 1996 because since that time sources of stress such as 9/11 attack, terrorist threat including the possibility of dirty bomb attacks etc, greatly multiplied.

The editor agreed with me, but insisted that readers always looking for a “fresh” data. In the resulting compromise I had to remove the “dated,“ but essential and interesting data, because it wasn’t related to the main topic of the article but was only supportive material. Yet the incident left an unpleasant residue, because the scientific integrity has been sacrificed to political considerations.

When I present workshops, write articles or offer reference to studies, which, of course, contain the date of publication, I often confronted with the request of "fresher” data. I’d be happy to present those “latest and greatest” data if they would be available and if they are just as reliable and substantiated by solid research. However, the point of the matter is, that human body isn’t a computer or a cell phone, it already been ingeniously designed and optimized by the creator and there isn’t undertakes so many drastic changes. Also despite expectations, there weren’t frequent extensive and serious studies on massage therapy in our professional fields. It is not always that what’s "New" is actually better. In fact on many instances apparently wonderful theories never were able to prove themselves clinically as good or safe ones.

Protocols and methodology that I offer were mostly developed during last 40-55 years. Most importantly, since then these protocols were in massive clinical use, and prove to be very effective and safe. My positive personal clinical experience, makes me love this methodology as well motivate me to share my knowledge with others.