Captain Hook is sitting in front of a job counselors desk and she's saying, "Hmmm...your top choices are piracy or massage therapy. Let's see if we can narrow this down a bit. We had our fun at the expense of massage therapy, now let us find what is massage therapy and its best features.

Massage therapy is applied to manipulate joints and the soft tissue of the body. Soft tissues include tendons and associated fascia, skin, ligaments and muscles.

Massage is one of the oldest forms of therapy practiced by the celebrated Greek, Roman, Chinese and Indian civilizations.

4700 years ago, ancient eastern Chinese practiced massage to heal a variety of ailments from paralysis to labour pains. Ayurvedha, a traditional form of Indian medicine uses a variety of aromatherapy oils and spices to give massage therapy.

Introduced in 19th century, the Swedish massage is the most practiced form in western culture. The Swedish therapy is said to have borrowed many of the techniques from Rome, Greece, Egypt and China.

In western hospitals, soldiers who fought in World War I were administered massage for nerve damage and to soothe shell shock. Many of our now popular modern massage techniques were created in order to heal specific health conditions.

When massage therapy is given to a person, many different physiological effects are achieved while the therapists hands move over the body. The different movements can physically stretch tendons and fascia, ligaments and muscles. Massage therapy also encourages the circulation through the tissue, inhibits muscular spasms and can be either stimulating or sedating to the nervous system.

Health problems can benefit from massage therapy since the manipulation of soft tissues affects many of our bodily systems.

Benefits from massage therapy are extensive. Massage therapy treatment can develop, rehabilitate or augment physical function. Relief from physical dysfunction and pain can also be achieved. Tightened and tense muscles can be relaxed. Massage therapy also improves the recovery time, circulation and immune system function. It creates a sense of relaxation and well being, reduces stress and controls acute or chronic pain by massage therapy.

Today, massage therapy is used for treating a wide range of ages from senior to babies in a variety of intensive care, health club, and health clinic and hospital settings.

To get even glide and a smooth workability, oils are applied in massage therapy. Some popular oils used are Almond oil, Grapeseed oil, Apricot oil, Avocado oil, Jojoba oil, Wheat germ oil and Hazelnut oil.