History of Russian Massage

Massage therapy all over the world is regarded as the best alternative medical treatment for many different medical conditions such as dysfunctions, common ailments, and the popular acute and chronic body pain. The natural therapy also works as a method capable of giving total relaxation to the body and mind. In addition to that, with proper execution and precise manipulation of the body by the massage therapist, massage is perhaps the most beneficial treatment which at the same time has the lowest risks of injuries and contraindications.

During the ancient centuries, Russians were practicing natural healing with the use of herbal medicines which is similar to the practice of most Oriental countries. The healers would use essential herbs that contain healing properties and would put them on the body of the patient. Sometimes they would boil herbs and make concoctions for the patients to drink for the health recovery. They would also use twigs on the patients by striking it on the body. The twigs are also valued as essential massage tools. Several evidences depicting the use of small branches on the body were proven.

Russian massage therapy is a type of massage that was designed to help patients recover from traumatic injuries, common injuries, and other conditions of the body. Although massage therapy during the early centuries was practiced on most parts of the world, it was not until the 1860s that massage was researched and studied by the Russians. It was Dr. M. Y. Mudrov who was responsible for the development and association of therapeutic massage into Russian medicine. This development was credited to Dr. Mudrov which was known as the classical massage. It was the predecessor of the Russian massage therapy which was later then practiced in the rehabilitation of the physical condition of a patient.

During the early years in Russia, only the very rich individuals were able to afford having a luxurious massage therapy aside from getting an injury and a prescription from a doctor. It was first taught in medical and athletic establishments until the 1990s although Russian massage therapy was known by almost all people in Russia.

After the Second World War, Russia became interested on the importance and benefits of massage therapy due to the scarcity of medicine supply to the country. This paved the way for the development and use of the Russian massage therapy.

Russian massage therapy uses the common massage strokes and techniques used in a Swedish massage although the treatment itself differs due to the more focused approach of the Russia's beloved therapy. In a Russian massage, you can expect a faster recovery rate from your injury due to many good reasons. The hands of the therapists work slowly and gently on the patient's body to treat musculoskeletal problems, cardiovascular and neurological problems, gastrointestinal and many more disorders in a patient. However, the massage is quite aggressive and does include slight amount of pain due to the process of "waking the muscles". The therapy is quite related and similar to sports massage which is a therapeutic type of massage developed as well for the treatment of injuries.