by Maggie Richardson

The Swedish massage is the most common type of massage in North America and is considered to be the foundation for many other types of massages such as Deep Tissue massage, Sports Therapy massage, and Aromatherapy massage. The Swedish massage uses a firm but gentle pressure to improve circulation, ease muscle aches and tension, improve flexibility and promote relaxation.

But with the words SWEDISH MASSAGE plastered in spas and massage therapy clinics throughout North America, I could not help but wonder: Why is it called the Swedish massage? And what is so Swedish about this massage?

My research quickly pointed to Psychologist Pehr Henrik Ling (1776-1839) who is thought to have pioneered this type of therapy at the University of Stockholm in 1812.

It seemed to be a simple answer to a simple question – until I started finding articles from researchers and comments from Swedish bloggers discrediting Pehr Henrik Ling as the creator of the Swedish massage. I quickly realized that there is much debate as to the history and development of Swedish massage therapy.

Pehr Henrik Ling founded the Royal Central Gymnastic Institute where he taught what he coined as the “Swedish Movement System”. Massage was only a small portion of the physical therapy techniques he promoted. Some say that Pehr Henrik Ling mistakenly received credit because somehow his teachings were later misunderstood as the “Swedish Massage System”. However, the French terms – effleurage, pétrissage, friction, tapotement and vibration that are used in Swedish Massage Therapy were never used by Pehr Henrik Ling or by any of his successors. Instead, the Dutch Physician, Johann Mezger (1838-1909) is generally credited as the person who adopted the French names to denote the basic strokes used in Swedish massage therapy today.

In reality, “Swedish massage” is an American expression. In Europe, this same technique is known as “Classic massage”. This difference evolved after Dr. George Taylor and Dr. Charles Taylor, two brothers who had studied in Sweden, brought this technique to the United States in 1854. The technique was very popular and spread quickly, with the term “Swedish massage” sticking.

This said, some believe that the origins of the Swedish massage date back as early as four thousand years ago. With writings on massage traced back to ancient China, Japan, India, Egypt, Greece and Rome, one sole person can not be coined as the inventor of the Swedish massage. In other words, the Swedish massage practiced today is based on massage techniques from around the world that have evolved throughout the years.

So is the Swedish massage really from Sweden? Who cares!  All I know is that after a stressful week at the office, there is nothing that makes me unwind better than a Swedish massage.

The information in this article has been collected from various sources. Given the heated debate on the history of the Swedish massage, many contradictions exist in different sources. While this article is meant to be an introduction to the origins of the Swedish massage, it is in no way meant to be taken as a scholarly source.

Maggie Richardson
FindSalonSpa.com Blogger

- The tea kettle, although up to its neck in hot water, continues to sing.