Swedish massage is mostly long, stroking movements that manipulate the soft tissue and muscles. Up until the late 1970s, it was by far the most common. Its therapeutic values are understood and include improved circulation, both vascular and lymphatic, relief of pain and the reduction of stress. Many people feel that massage therapy can help strengthen the immune system, promote emotional well-being and normalize the entire physiology. By the 1980s, specialized forms of massage typical of Eastern cultures began to show up in the West.
Eastern systems utilize an advanced understanding of the holistic nature of the body.
Specialized applications became part of the massage therapist's repertoire. As Western therapists learned more about acupressure, reiki and chakras, their clients benefited from that knowledge. When the American Massage Therapy Association began in 1979, there were only a couple thousand therapists. Now there are 25,000 or so. Massage still feels great.