If you are feeling stressed or suffering from some type of tension related ache, massage therapy can provide terrific benefits. Not only does this relieve tension, but it also promotes healing. Deep tissue massage involves gently using long, firm strokes and slow, continuous pressure to reach deep into the muscle and fascia (the connective tissues around muscles). It is used for chronic tension and aches in the back, legs, neck, and stiff joints; for example, lower back pain, tight neck and shoulder, and tired leg muscles. Acupressure is based on traditional Chinese medicine and its many benefits. Acupressure can help to promote blood circulation. This helps to relieve the pain of strained muscles and tendons. Acupressure can help loosen muscles and promote natural healing in the body. Acupressure can also help to relieve headaches, reduce stress, improve circulation, and ease any sort of tension or pain. Acupuncture is another popular method of treating chronic pain. Acupressure needles are placed at specific pressure points along meridians, or energy pathways. Acupressure needles are often chosen based on the region of greatest discomfort. To apply acupressure to relieve headache pain, a massage therapist may apply firm pressure to acupressure points along the spine. In doing so, the massage therapist will focus on linking the meridian points to the origin of pain by applying enough pressure for a few minutes. Often, a massage therapist may also recommend certain postures to help relax and relieve the patient of tension. Some practitioners believe that applying pressure to acupressure points will result in releasing a negative energy that blocks pain. This"releasing" of the energy causes the individual's body to become more relaxed. Another frequent use of acupressure is in the treatment of sports injuries. Many athletes find that acupressure helps to reduce swelling, stiffness and pain. Some therapists also believe that it can lessen the intensity of an injury. As an example, if an athlete is playing a contact sport and receives a minor injury, the injury will probably be less severe than an athlete who has not been satisfactorily stretched or worked on strengthening his muscles. It may take a bit longer to heal for the athlete working with this procedure, but it is less painful and could possibly help to rehabilitate the soft tissues and muscles that have been injured. Nausea is usually accompanied by low back or neck pain. Because acupressure is designed to loosen and relax tight muscles, it might feel good to lessen the amount of stressed muscles you own. When you massage the acupressure points together with the acupressure points on the other side of the backbone, your body will become more limber. You will feel less nauseated and not have as strong a reaction to food or drinks. This helps to ease the nausea that some people experience after having meals, as well as after some kinds of athletic events. If you suffer from chronic pain, massage therapy may help you reduce and sometimes eliminate your chronic pain. Acupressure can alleviate both muscle spasms and cramps and nausea. The massage therapist may suggest that you combine massage with exercise to help in the healing process. You will feel less pain when you exercise in addition to getting a massage. It's important to talk to your doctor before starting up a fitness routine. Your acupressure points may help with the initial healing process, but the acupressure therapist can offer additional advice if you are having problems with pain or nausea. There are quite a few different causes of chronic pain in the upper back. Sciatica is one cause of chronic lower back pain. If you do not feel comfortable performing the common body parts massage that is advised for sciatica, you might want to try acupressure on the other upper back areas, such as the shoulder blades or even the neck. These two areas appear to be especially tense because of muscle spasm, which helps to bring about the severe soreness in the upper back.