National Hospital, Abu Dhabi Holistic Health Center Massage Therapy Massage has been described as "the healing touch" often referred to as body work or somatic therapy. It refers to the application of various techniques to the muscular structure and soft tissues of the body. It consists of a group of manual techniques that include applying fixed or movable pressure, holding or causing movement to the body, using primarily the hands. The massage therapist may also use other areas of the body, such as forearms, elbows or feet. These techniques affect the muscular-skeletal, circulatory-lymphatic, nervous, and other systems of the body. The aim of massage therapy is fairly straightforward - to positively affect the health and well-being of the patient. Numerous physical and mental health benefits have been attributed to massage, including reducing stress and aiding in relaxation, reducing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure, increasing blood circulation and lymph flow, relaxing the muscles, reducing chronic pain and improving joint range of motion. According to The Touch Research Institute (TRI) at the University of Miami, School of Medicine, Florida, massage therapy increases the number of natural killer cells known to destroy cancer cells in women with breast cancer, thereby increasing patient immune function. Back to Overview