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INSTRUCTORS
Massage therapists in Chicago work in a wide range of settings, including business offices, hospitals, clinical settings, nursing homes, sport clubs, and fitness facilities. Some also travel to patients' homes and workplaces to provide therapeutic services.

Massage therapists in Chicago usually provide sessions that can range from 30 to 60 minutes in duration. Depending on the type of massage and the focus of the session, sessions can also last as short as 15 minutes or as long as 1.5 to 2 hours. In some cases (especially chronic ones), therapists often suggest a series of appointments. Therapists in Chicago can provide an environment that is calm and soothing (using lower lighting, pleasant, relaxing music, and fragrances).

During the initial appointment, a massage therapist will talk with you about your condition, medical past, the results you (and your doctor, if applicable) are looking to achieve. They also will discuss other concerning factors such as your job or profession as it relates to your daily levels of stress, habits, etc. They will likely implement tests to assess your current condition. If they do not observe or discover anything that would suggest against massaging, they will proceed to providing your massage treatment. You are encouraged to at ant time, to ask questions and address any concerns.



Scientists are constantly studying the effects of massage therapy and its short and long term effects on patients when applied. Some aspects that are established and well known are:

  • When particular pressures are applied to the body and its fibers, changes take place in the muscles of the body.
  • Massage therapy ideally increases relaxation and decreases stress. Stress is known to increase symptoms and worsen diseases and medical states.

3 proposed theories on massage are:

  • Massage can yield stimulation that can help block pain signals sent to the brain. This is known as the Gate Control Theory of pain reduction).
  • Can shift a patient's nervous system away from the sympathetic and toward the parasympathetic. The sympathetic nervous system helps engage the body for movement. When someone is experiencing stress, it goes into the fight-or-flight response. In such cases, a person’s heart rate and breathing rate elevates. A person’s blood vessels strickens and their muscles becomes tight.. The parasympathetic nervous system activates the rest-and-digest response. A person’s heart rate and breathing rate slows down. The blood vessels dilate and functionality speeds up in many parts of the digestive tract.
  • Can induce the release of particular chemicals in the body, such as serotonin or endorphins.
  • Can induce helpful mechanical processes in the body. Such as by prohibiting fibrosis. This is the formation of scar-like tissue. It can also elevate the release of lymph. This is a fluid that moves through the body's lymphatic system and carries cells that help fight disease.
  • Can improve a person’s sleep, which plays a part in pain and healing.
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