Massage therapy is a form of treatment that uses hands-on manipulation of the body's muscles and soft tissues. Massage therapists use massage to treat a wide variety of conditions, including tension headaches, neck pain, lower back pain, and stress. Massage is a general term that refers to the pressing, rubbing, or kneading of the body's muscles and soft tissues. A massage can be done with the hands, fists, elbows, or feet.