What is Acupressure Massage?

What is Acupressure?

Acupressure has its roots in traditional Chinese and Japanese cultures through Shiatsu and Anma.

How does Acupressure Work?

Acupressure points are places on the body that are especially sensitive to bioelectrical impulses and conduct these impulses readily.  In Chinese medicine terms acupressure points are junctions on the meridians that carry human energy, which the Chinese call Chi and the Japanese call Ki.  Western scientists have also mapped out and proven the existing of this system of acupressure points by using sensitive electrical devices.  Stimulating these acupressure points with pressure, acupressure massage triggers the release of endorphins which are the neurochemicals that relieve pain.

Tension tends to concentrate around the acupressure points.  When a muscle is chronically tense or in spams, the muscle fibres contract due to the secretion of lactic acid caused by fatigue, trauma, stress, chemical imbalances or poor circulation.  When acupressure points are pressed, the muscle tension yields to the pressure, enabling the muscle fibres to elongate and relax.

Seated Acupressure Massage incorporates the pressing of a number of acupressure points, depending upon the length of treatment up to 100 points may be stimulated.  Below are the some of the points that may be incorporated into a Seated Acupressure Massage for someone who is experience neck pain or stiffness:

  GV16 Wind Mansion – which aids the release of headaches, stiff necks and neck pain.
GB20 Gates of Consciousness – which aid the release of neck pain and headaches.
TW16 Window of heaven – aids the release of stiff necks, shoulder & neck pain and headaches.
B10 Heavenly Pillar – which helps relieves stress and stiff necks.
GB21  Shoulder Well – which as the name suggests helps relieve tension and pain in the shoulders.

 

What is the difference between Acupressure and Acupuncture?

With acupressure the acupressure points are stimulated with pressure, with acupuncture the same acupressure points are stimulated with needles.

What is the difference between Acupressure and Seated Acupressure Massage?

Seated Acupressure Massage is very modern; it was created in 1984 by David Palmer who used traditional Acupressure techniques to give 15 minute treatments on the neck & shoulders of clothed employees at Apple Computers in the USA to relieve neck & shoulder pain.

You can think of Seated Acupressure Massage as utilising the ancient wisdom and healing art of acupressure to address the modern office woes of stiffness due to muscular tension and pain in the upper back, neck and shoulders.

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    Unfortunately no one totally understands what causes muscle cramps. Most authorities agree that in skeletal muscles they are frequently caused by the hyper-excitability of the nerves that stimulate muscles. Rather than thinking of a single cause of muscle cramps, I find it more helpful to think in terms of risk factors. A field study of 433 Ironman triathletes suggest that those so cramped had exercised harder than usual, had a family history of cramping and had previous tension or ligament damage. Because muscle cramps often occur due to muscle fatigue the problem may be related to nerve malfunction creates an imbalance between muscle excitation and inhibition which prevents the muscle from relaxing. (see Schwellnus et al 2004). In summary although muscle cramps are likely to be related to overexertion there are other contribution factors. References Shang G, Collins M and Schwellnus M (2001). Factors associated with self-reported history of exercise associated muscle cramps in Ironman Triathletes: A case-control study, The Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine 21(3): p204-210 Schwellnus MP, Nicol J, Laubscher R et al (2004). Serum electrolyte concentrations and hydration status are not associated with exercise associated muscle cramping in distance runners, British Journal of Sports Medicine 38(4): p488-492

  • Yet more scientific evidence of the benefits of chair massage

    A number of studies have identified that nurses experience a range of symptoms indicative of work related stress including

    1. Headaches
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  • What type of massage is right for me?

    The short answer is...

    • Seated Acupressure Neck & Shoulder massage is a short focused massage to release tension in the Neck & Shoulders
    • Choose Sports massage over deep tissue massage when you go to the gym with a specific sporting goal in mind, i.e. you are going for more than just generally keeping fit. Or you are really focused on your sport including actively taking part in competitions or you are keen to improve your performance or your training is solely focused on your sport and you do not cross train.
    Description of your back Recommended Treatment
    My back feels like concrete? Deep Tissue Massage – the use of hot stones to relax the muscle can be less painful than other deep pressure techniques
    My neck and shoulder are tight and sore from sitting at my desk all day? Seated Acupressure Neck & Shoulder Massage
    You play sports, don’t cross train and have specific trouble spots? Sports Massage 
    You work out religiously at the gym, but don’t always stretch? Sports Massage as it incorporates stretching 
    You are training for a specific sporting event or just completed one? Sports Massage 
    You are inactive or active but just have a bad back? Sports Massage or Deep Tissue Massage