Treat yourself and your milspouse to these top 5 massages - We Are The Mighty

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Military deployment is not only tough for soldiers but their families also. This one time after a long hump through Camp Lejeune our Battalion Commander treated us to a foot massage. We hiked to the beach…from A street. No, not ‘a street’, A Street. A legal haze fest because all the officers had to hike, too. No one was spared, all the S shops. Leave was denied. Grunt and POG, officer and enlist, all were equally humbled that day. It was a glorious haze fest I’ve seen no equal to in my six year career in the Corps. Warrior dinner, promotions, and a spa treatment.

One thing that I encourage active duty service members or veterans is to treat themselves and their spouses to a massage. Your mil spouse supports you in your mission and a surprise spa treatment will show you really care. Like flowers, ‘just because’ is the best reason to give a gift.

A massage is a good way to bond and connect with your partner. It allows you to experience the benefits of serotonin, the chemical responsible for happy moods produced by the brain. Massage is also an alternative therapy that seems to be becoming popular in providing pain relief.

Corporal Alex McMinn, field radio operator, Alpha Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, receives a massage from Tami Weismann, a massage therapist, during the battalion’s Beach Bash here, Sept. 14, 2013. Local massage therapists with the American Massage Therapists Association provide free massages to Marines and their families at the event. The annual Beach Bash was held to show appreciation to the Marines, sailors, family and friends of the battalion for their continued support. The venue provided fun activities to include a karaoke contest, dance contest, team relay races and competitions, dunk tank and raffled prizes.

There are top five messages that you may consider treating your military spouse to that come with a pack of benefits. These perks include relieving back pain and stiffness, improving the immune system, regulating blood pressure, relieving psychological pain, and reducing headache frequencies.

Sports Massage​

This type of massage is extensively incorporated for individuals who engage in sports and exercise regularly. It incorporates the body’s soft tissues and concentrates on particular muscle groups mainly engaged during military activity.

This massage will decrease muscle pain, enhance flexibility, treat injuries and enhance athletic achievement. Sports massage engages quicker strokes than Swedish massage and may comprise other massage techniques such as friction, compression, joint mobilization, and pressure point therapy.

Swedish Massage​

Zach Blair, Marine Corps team member, get a massage before the wheel chair basketball game at the 2013 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 12. Jeanette Falu-Bishop, the founder and executive director of Structure for Wounded Warriors, has offered body work to all competitors at the Games.

This massage is recognized for its long, soft, kneading strokes integrated with shorter, percussive tapping strokes that incorporate light to modest pressure to accommodate the level of your military spouse. Massage therapy incorporates five different types of strokes.

Petrissage, which is the rolling, kneading, and lifting movements is used alongside friction which is the deep, circular wringing or movements targeted to increase blood flow. Also, there is effleurage that involves a long, smooth stroke to relax soft tissue.

Moreover, there is vibration which is shaking and rocking movements and tapotement that involves rhythmic irregular taps done with fingers or cupped hands.

Deep Tissue Massage​

Deep tissue massage concentrates on the painful problem areas of the body. It ideally focuses on the muscle knots, tension spots within the muscle fiber, and problem spots in deeper connective tissue and muscle layers.

Ideally, it is best to execute this massage by working with slow, steady, more intense strokes or friction to relieve pain from repetitive strain, injuries, postural issues, and painful or tight muscles. Remember that deep tissue massage is not supposed to be painful, even if the strokes are more powerful.

Your spouse will be very thankful after treating him to this message since it will help treat tedious stress injuries, chronic pain situations, and injuries that result in restricted mobility.

Maj. Andrea Taylor, 88th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron physical therapist, massages student physical therapist Zac Mathien’s shoulder muscle after using a pin to help it relax Jan. 25, 2022, in Wright-Patterson Medical Center’s Physical Therapy Clinic. The Wright-Patt medical center recently observed Biomedical Sciences Corps Appreciation Week. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)

Thai Massage​

This more energizing massage involves assisted yoga, pressing massage movements, and passive stretching. This massage tries to align the body’s energies, and during a session, you will move and stretch your military spouse.

It incorporates percussive muscle compression, joint mobilization, and acupressure to decrease stress and enhance flexibility. Thai massage can assist treat back pain, migraine symptoms, and balance issues. This massage usually follows particular body lines known as sen and can take up to two hours, concentrating on muscle relaxation.

Hot Stone Massage​

Hot stone massage is the one to opt for if you want to treat your military spouse to novelty, making it stand out. You can place hot stones on your spouse’s body and use them frequently to provide a massage. The consequent effect enables the therapist to go deeper while still utilizing pressure.

The right heat level is an amazing way to loosen muscle tension and heighten the relaxation levels. At times, hot stone massage sessions accompany a normal massage experience and do not entirely utilize stones throughout the session.

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