Four Types of Therapeutic Massage
August 12, 2008 at 11:47 am (In the News, Massage, What is)
A few weeks ago I posted a blog on the definition of massage and outlined what I thought to be the three overall categories of therapeutic massage based on desired outcome. Well, after seeing Dara Torres with her trainers I had to create a new category.
So here is the new list:
Four Types of Therapeutic Massage
- Relaxation Includes Swedish, Full-body, Fluff-n-buff, etc.
- Corrective Includes Deep Tissue, Clinical, Medical, Orthopedic, etc.
- Conditioning Includes Sports Massage, Resistance Stretching, etc.
- Energetic Includes Shiatsu, Reiki, etc.
The new category is “conditioning.” A Conditioning Massage is one that seeks to improve the texture, flexibility, and strength of healthy soft tissue with the overall goal of enhancing performance and endurance.

Gary said,
June 27, 2009 at 12:51 pm
In 2 weeks I begin traveling cross-country in an RV as the massotherapist to a team of bicyclists (Anaheim to NYC): I need a crash course in sports massage! wondering if your link to the work of Bob Cooney might be a place to start. Any wisdom to share?