Category: History of Massage

Practical Massage: Introduction to the Private Instructions in the Art of Massage By Dr. J.D. Balkam Archive.org Page 1 2 Editor’s introduction: This article comprises one of the smallest books on the subject of massage, only twenty-one pages in length. It was written by the author in 1887 while he was a practicing physician and…

The Physiological Effects of Massage By J.H. Kellogg, M.D. Editor’s introduction: John Harvey Kellogg, M.D., (1852-1943) is best known as the charismatic director of the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan. The “San” as it was called, featured more than 200 varieties of water treatments along with massage and other natural therapies. Dr. Kellogg’s book, The…

The Meaning of Massage and Its Technique By Dr. Emil A.G. Kleen “MASSAGE means a manipulation or handling of the soft tissues by movable pressure in the form of stroking, rubbing, pinching, kneading or beating performed with a therapeutic aim. This is generally applied by hand, but can, of course, also be given by means…

Sports Massage has long been popular in European Countries and is a primary source of care. Trainers and coaches in the US used massage for restorative purposes, especially in boxing and track and field. The following are key dates and milestones: Circa 400 BCE Early Greek Gymnasiums focused on exercise that consisted of wrestling, jumping,…

Masseuse or Masseur have been used since the early 1800’s to refer to people who perform massage’s professionally.  They are said to work at Massage Parlors. This was true before 1980 when people who perform massage professionally were beginning to be referred to as massage therapists. Today in the U.S., the words have become more…