How Head, Neck, and Shoulder Massage Work
May 11, 2023
You can stop reading now if you've previously experienced the calming and soothing effects of a head, neck, and shoulder massage. But if you're one of the last remaining sceptics who have yet to enjoy the numerous psychological and physiological benefits of a head, neck, and shoulder massage, you're missing out!
Does it feel like you're carrying the world's weight on your shoulders? Imagine someone removing that weight by gently pressing pressure points with strokes and rubs. You now have a head, neck, and shoulder massage!
What is a Head, Neck, and Shoulder Massage?
Head, neck, and shoulder massages stimulate the nervous system, increasing blood flow to the head and easing stress through the release of endorphins, which, in turn, help in relieving pain and giving you a sense of well-being. They are typically recommended to ease tension and stress around the neck and shoulder area, leading to general discomfort.
How Does a Head, Neck, and Shoulder Massage Work?
A trained therapist will begin by massaging the shoulders and upper chest using their thumbs, fingertips, palms, and fists before moving on to the back of the head and finally exerting deeper pressure at the base of the skull.
Head Massage
A deep-style massage that concentrates on the head, neck, and shoulders is called a head massage. A head massage uses techniques to ease upper body tension and lessen stress. Stimulating nearby nerves and blood vessels by massaging the scalp can help reduce head-regional muscle tension. A head massage can be calming and energising at the same time.
What are the techniques used in a head massage?
A head massage uses a variety of massage techniques. The most typical methods utilised when giving a head massage are as follows:
Deep Stroke
A head massage uses a variety of massage strokes. Flat fingers and hands are used to make strokes, ranging in pressure from gentle to hard. It is well-recognised that applying various strokes to the shoulders, neck, and scalp can reduce tension and treat both acute and recurring headaches.
Kneading
During a head massage, kneading is a typical massage technique. On the neck and shoulders, which have muscles, kneading is used. Kneading is a slow, rhythmic massaging that pulls and squeezes tissue—compressing soft tissues while kneading enhances deeper blood and lymph circulation. Stimulating lymph circulation to remove waste products from the tissues and maintain healthy muscles is crucial.
Circular frictions
Fingertips or thumbs are used to apply circular friction. During a head massage, circular friction can be used on the scalp and neck. Based on the desired result, frictional pressure and depth can be changed. Repeated circular frictions are applied to the exact location to loosen the tissues and improve circulation.
Acupressure
A head massage frequently includes acupressure. Using fingertip or thumb pressure to press on pressure or trigger points inside the soft tissues is known as acupressure—pressure points aid in releasing knots, calming muscles, and promoting blood flow throughout the body. Pressure points are applied around the shoulder, head, and face to relieve frequent tension hotspots. It is helpful to employ acupressure to lessen headaches.
Neck Massage
The muscles in the neck and shoulder region are the focus of a neck massage. A neck massage may target the sternocleidomastoid, scalene, and upper trapezius muscles. A neck massage promotes relaxation, eases stress, and lessens headaches. Muscle temperature can be boosted in various ways to help enhance tissue elasticity and reduce joint stiffness.
What are the techniques used in a neck massage?
Acupressure, mobilisations, and skin rolling are often used during a neck massage.
Acupressure
Acupressure is frequently employed to promote blood flow and release muscular tension. When performing acupressure, an ischemic reaction happens because the blood flow is constrained as pressure is administered. By encouraging muscle fibres to relax, the force used causes muscular knots to loosen and dissolve. Muscular knots can be reduced and broken down to help with neck pain relief. As the pressure is relieved, the blood supply to the area increases, giving the muscles more oxygen and nutrients and speeding up the healing process.
Mobilisations
An excellent technique utilised during a neck massage is mobilisation. During mobilisations, pressure is applied to the spinous and transverse processes on the cervical spine's vertebrae. Each joint between the vertebrae becomes looser and more "lubricated" when pressure is gradually introduced and released while the procedures are occurring, allowing for increased movement.
Skin Rolling
A neck massage frequently includes rolling the skin. Fingers and thumbs are used to pick up and roll skin for skin rolling. Fascia is a tight layer of connective tissues beneath the skin's surface that causes restriction. Skin rolling is a helpful technique to lessen fascia's constriction and improve blood flow. Fascia can further impede movement and flexibility by becoming constrictive due to muscular tension, injury, surgery, or pain. Rolling the skin increases blood flow, which raises the warmth of the fascia, causing it to loosen and stretch. Therefore, increased movement is made possible by reducing fascia due to skin rolling because there is less constriction.
Shoulder Massage
A shoulder massage concentrates on the muscles in the shoulder area. The shoulder region's strengths are the rotator cuff, rhomboids, and upper trapezius muscles. Many techniques are used during a shoulder massage to ease discomfort and tension in these muscles. A shoulder massage increases blood flow, which leads to the muscles becoming more relaxed. You experience less pain as their temperature rises.
What are the techniques used in a shoulder massage?
Several different approaches are employed when massaging the shoulders. The following are the methods most frequently applied when rubbing the shoulder:
Acupressure
A shoulder massage frequently includes the application of acupressure. The thumb or fingertips are used in the acupressure technique to apply pressure to muscle knots and trigger points. The shoulder muscles' blood flow is aided by acupressure. The blood supply to these muscle knots stops when pressure is applied and stress is administered, which breaks up and softens the muscular knot.
Kneading
A shoulder massage involves kneading the muscles. Hands can be flat or made into fists for kneading. Squeezing and tugging the soft tissues slowly improves blood and lymph flow. The soft tissues are pulled and squeezed, causing friction that raises the temperature of the muscles and enhances suppleness.
Effleurage
While massaging the shoulders, effleurage is employed. Flattened hands and fingers can be used to conduct the effleurage technique. Effleurage pressure can be adjusted to suit the user's tastes.
Effleurage can help relieve stress, pain, and tightness in the shoulders and can be a soothing sensation. Effleurage aids in raising muscle temperature, which enhances blood circulation throughout the body. The friction caused by rubbing the skin raises the temperature.
The suppleness of the muscles is improved by increasing the body's temperature and enhancing blood flow. Muscle elasticity improvement through effleurage aids in easing tension and tightness in the muscle. Effleurage enhances lymphatic circulation, which further aids in the evacuation of waste and pollutants.
Skin Rolling
Skin rolling is an efficient method frequently employed during a shoulder massage. Skin rolling involves picking up the skin and rolling it between the fingers and thumbs. Muscle stress and tension are relieved by moving the skin. The circulation of the blood and lymph is improved by rolling the skin, and increased lymph flow facilitates the elimination of toxins and waste from the muscles and tissues.
Trigger Points
A shoulder massage successfully employs trigger pointing. The centre of muscle fibre is where a trigger point is located. If a trigger point is not treated, it may result in physical pain.
Pressure is applied to the trigger points during a shoulder massage to assist in loosening up any knots that might be causing pain in the upper back region. Due to the pressure applied to the trigger points and the restriction of blood flow to this region, knots are softer. An ischemic reaction occurs when the blood flow is restricted.
Blood is instantly pumped to this location as soon as pressure is lifted as part of the body's natural healing process. The body increases blood flow to heal it.
What Are the Benefits of Getting a Head, Neck, and Shoulder Massage?
Head, neck, and shoulder massages are frequently advised to relieve tension and stress accumulating in the neck and shoulder region. They stimulate the nervous system, increasing blood flow to the head and reducing stress by releasing endorphins, which help relieve pain and give you a sense of well-being. Here are more benefits you can get from a head, neck, and shoulder massage:
- Increased understanding of calm and satisfaction
- Relief from discomfort, including headaches, backaches, tension and stress
- The body's happy hormones, endorphins, are released
- Improved lymphatic and blood flow
- Higher levels of energy and a feeling of vibrancy
- Injury healing
- An improved sense of overall health and well-being
Why Should You Get a Head, Neck, and Shoulder Massage from a Professional?
Numerous factors – including but not limited to inflammation, whiplash, sleeping incorrectly, or even making a wrong quick movement – can cause neck pain. To help you relieve the discomfort and avoid future injury, you usually need the assistance of a skilled massage therapist knowledgeable about neck massage techniques and how and where to touch trigger points in those muscles.
Triple Your Relaxation with Royal Paradise Thai Massage
Amazingly, you feel lighter getting a massage – especially if you frequently experience neck stiffness, muscle tension, and headaches. At Royal Paradise Thai Massage, we can give you a triple relaxation of head, neck, and shoulder massage to improve your range of motion and release more endorphins, the body's natural painkillers.
As usual, we do this procedure on a massage couch rather than a massage chair because it is more efficient. This treatment may be the best option if you're short on time.