HISTORY

OF THE
MASSAGE

BEATRIZ GONZÁLEZ CALVO

 INDEX

1. CONCEPT AND DEFINITION OF

MASSAGE……………………………………...3
1.1 Concept and etymology………………………………………………… 3
1.2 Definition of
massage………………………………………………………….. 3

2. ORIGINS OF MASSAGE……………………………………………….....4
3. HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF MASSAGE………………………………...4
3.1 In ancient China (2700 BC). C) ………………………………………4
3.2 In ancient Egypt (2500 BC). C.) ……………………………………. 5
3.3 Ayurvedic medicine (1800-1500 BC). C) ……………………….... 6
3.4 Japanese massage (1000 BC) C.)
……………………………………….6
3.5 Ancient Greece (800-700 BC) C) ……………………………………. 7
3.6 Hippocrates (500 BC) C)
………………………………………………….7
3.7 Roman Culture…………………………………………………………... 8
3.8 The decline…………………………………………………………... 9

3.9 Middle Ages…………………………………………………………..... 10

3.10 Renaissance (end of the 15th century - beginning of the 16th
century) …………………… 10
3.11 Modern massage (from 1800 to the present) …………………... 10
3.12 The creator of chiromassage……………………………………......
11

4. BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………….....
12

2
 1. CONCEPT AND DEFINITION OF MASSAGE
1.1 Concept and etymology
Nowadays the concept of massage is somewhat confusing. So much so
that it is associated with different types of practices in different cultures and
civilizations.
Various authors have given different definitions based on where the word
comes from:
-Masser: French term (to knead, knead, massage)
-Mass: Arabic term (to touch gently, to rub gently)
-Masshech: Hebrew term (to feel, feel)
-Massien: Greek term (knead, rub)
It would not be until the 19th century when the word Masser or massage
began to be used in Indo-European dialects, and in the 20th century Ling
introduced it into several languages.
1.2 Definition of massage
In the everyday moments of our lives we carry out a multitude of gestures
that are similar to the different techniques that derive from massage. We
perform these gestures without any prior learning.
Attitudes such as applying our hand to the area where we have a wound
or rubbing our skin when we are cold, have become, over time, current
massage techniques.
There are a wide variety of definitions for the term massage. Below, we
highlight some of them:
-Massage is a combination of varied manipulations, and is mainly
based on movements and pressures of the therapist's hands on
the surface of the body, for therapeutic purposes.
-Massage is a term used to designate a set of manipulations that
are practiced on a part or all of the body, to provoke in the body a
set of direct or reflex reactions and with hygienic, therapeutic or
aesthetic effects.

3
 2. ORIGINS OF MASSAGE
The origin of massage comes from the very birth of Humanity. It is very
possible that massage was born together with the need of human beings to take
care of themselves and their fellow human beings. No person, town, tribe or
state can be established as the inventor of massage, rather we must think that
massage was born in different places and different continents almost
simultaneously.
3. HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF MASSAGE
The practice of massage has evolved over the centuries.
Below we will look at the history of massage and some of the historical
periods, cultures and figures that have contributed to our modern understanding
of massage as a holistic practice for achieving health and well-being.
3.1 In ancient China (2700 BC). C)
The book of Kon-Fou (The Art of Man) of the Bonzes, written around
2,600-2,700 years BC, is the first written treatise that includes the first known
recommendations and indications of massage and respiratory gymnastics for
therapeutic purposes.
Massage dates back to at least three thousand years BC. Although the
art of touching, compressing, kneading and kneading tissues dates back to the
dawn of humanity.
The mythical Yellow Emperor, wrote the Huang Di Nei-Jing (classic of
Chinese Medicine), around 2697–2596 BC The book, written in the form of a
question and answer between the emperor and his first doctor, covers all fields
of medicine. It deals with meridians, acupuncture, moxas, bloodletting and
massage. Both the massage and the self-massage that they describe are
recommended in association with physical exercise, hot plasters and respiratory
gymnastics.
Massage in China is seen from two different aspects: The tui-na (push-
hold-contain) (fig.1) and the an-mo (press-rub). The first is a vigorous technique
that is associated with mobilizations and the second is a soft and subtle
massage.
Chinese medicine all follows the criterion of Yin-Yang, which are two
opposite but complementary forces that govern all the phenomena of the living
being.

4
Fig.1: Tui-Na Massage

3.2 In ancient Egypt (2500 BC)

About 200 years later, the ancient Egyptians developed the technique of
reflexology, a vital part of some of the greatest cultures in ancient history,
including ancient Greece and Rome. Reflexology is based on the idea that the
body has points on the feet that reflect on all the body's organs . This form of
massage applies pressure to a certain part of the foot, which controls a
particular organ in the body.

Fig. 2: Egyptians applying massage techniques such as reflexology

5
 In some Egyptian tombs, belonging to famous pharaonic doctors,
drawings have been found representing various therapeutic scenes and, among
them, massage maneuvers.

3.3 Ayurvedic medicine (1800-1500 BC). C)

A thousand years later the ancient Hindu practice of Ayurveda medicine

(science or knowledge of life) emerged. This medicine holds that the mind, body
and spirit are connected and when one substance does not function properly, it
negatively affects the others. This symbiotic relationship explains how health,
illness, and medicine are viewed and practiced . All of this is cited in the so-
called Books of the Ganges or Veda Books.

Fig.3: Ayurveda medicine

3.4 Japanese massage (1000 BC)

Around 1000 BC, Japanese Buddhist monks were studying the Tui Na
technique in China. Upon returning to Japan, the monks added their own
modifications to Tui Na, which eventually became their own massage modality,
known as Anma. During the 1940s, Anma, along with massage techniques from
other modalities, were codified by Tokujiro Namikoshi into what we now know
as Shiatsu.

6
 Fig. 4: Shiatsu

3.5 Ancient Greece (800-700 BC) C)

One of the most influential cultures in the history of massage were the
ancient Greeks. Specific techniques included decreasing “knots” throughout the
muscle tissue in the body through therapeutic rubbing. This practice is very
similar to modern Cyriax techniques.
3.6 Hippocrates (500 BC) C.)
The era of the 5th century BC It was vital to the history of medicine.
Hippocrates is considered the founder of modern medicine and his
legacy continues to this day. As a medical pioneer, Hippocrates prescribed
treatments for injuries, which included friction as a form of healing.
Within his treatments and prescriptions, Hippocrates promoted general
well-being by encouraging a good diet, exercise, ample sleep, and music. In
many ways, his healing system had more in common with holistic medicine than
with conventional medicine.

7
 Fig.5: Hippocrates

3.7 Roman culture

In Rome, as in Greece, the use of massage for therapeutic purposes was
common. But in Rome these goals gradually degraded until they became based
on erotic performances. As a consequence, initially therapeutic techniques fell
into discredit, especially once Christianity, which combated any physical friction
or treatment, was stabilized.
In the great Roman baths there were rooms in which massage
techniques were practiced with olive oil and various ointments.
Asclepiades of Bithynia (S. I a. C), doctor of Greek origin but who
practiced in Rome. His treatments were based on three principles: massage,
hydrotherapy cures and exercise.
In terms of massages, he recommended friction and rubbing on the spine
for different diseases that caused convulsions, spasms and pain.
The great personality of Roman culture is found in Galen of Pergamon
(129-199), born in Greece and physician to the emperor Marcus Aurelius . He
was well versed in the work of Hippocrates and contributed to the advancement
of medical knowledge of the time, to the point of setting the standard throughout
the Middle Ages and into the modern age. He was the official doctor of the
gladiators, he devised specific maneuvers and massage procedures for their
muscles and activity; He also required massage procedures and exercises with
healing purposes.

8
Fig.5: Roman baths

3.8 The decline

The art and practice of massage experienced a serious decline in the

final stages of the Roman Empire.
There are three fundamental reasons:

• Roman society is moving towards libertine customs and

lifestyles, which cause the known techniques and forms of manual
therapy to sometimes focus on erotic and sexual purposes, degrading
the true spirit of massage therapy practice.

• The Christianity that was implanted in Roman society flatly

rejects any sign of physical contact. Christian values, new to Roman
society, take precedence over the care and cultivation of the soul, leaving
aside and even abandoning the health of the body.

• Abundance of incompetent and opportunistic people who,

without adequate knowledge and without honest intentions, practice
manual therapy.

Despite this crisis of the Roman Empire , the work promoted by

Hippocrates and Galen survives in the Byzantine Empire (s. IV-VII).
At this stage the massage continues as part of natural medicine from the
hand of several doctors; Zeno of Cyprus , Oribasius and Alexander of Tralles .
The Arab world is also interested in manual therapies and in its own way
is a continuator of Hippocratic-Gallenic medicine.
The personality of Avicenna (930-1037) stands out, an Arab doctor who
continued the tradition of massage. His contribution to the knowledge of the

9
time and regarding massage consists of the description of its qualities and
establishment of indications for the application of various techniques.
Another Arab doctor, Albucasis (936-1013) wrote a 30-volume treatise,
referring to massage in various passages of his work. He applied cautery to
injured areas and specific points. He recommended mobilizing the joints and
giving them friction, once the fractures had consolidated.

3.9 Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages, massage techniques remained out of favor as a

result of the predominance of Christianity. This circumstance represents a delay
in all scientific advances, but especially in physical medicine.

3.10 The Renaissance (end of the 15th century, beginning of the 16th
century)

People's concern arises about revising ancient treaties. The

consequence of this trend is that various authors update those dubious and
forgotten techniques used by the Greek and Roman classics of yesteryear,
including massage and gymnastics as a measure of various diseases and body
strengthening.
The recommendations made by Hippocrates, Asclepiades, Galen,
Avicenna and others are reviewed. At this time, friction and exercise are still
considered together as a healing method.

3.11 Modern massage (from 1800 to the present)

Modern massage was largely developed during the 19th century by

Henril Ling, creator of what we know today as Swedish massage and founder of
the Central Gymnastic Institute of E. The method created by Dr. Henril was
refined by Johan Georg Mezger, who introduced various techniques based on
Swedish gymnastics, such as striking movements, to massage modality.
Our scientific knowledge has changed over the centuries, but massage
as an applied practice to achieve health and well-being has not changed
drastically. After all, the human body has not changed significantly since the
ancient Egyptians. Massage transcends the details of culture and human
history. As long as people are prone to discomfort and illness, massage will
continue to exist as a health and wellness practice.

3.12 The creator of chiromassage

The origin of chiromassage, as a specific modality of massage, comes

from the Alicante naturopathic doctor Vicente Lino Ferrándiz, born in 1893. Dr.
Ferrándiz coined the term “chiromassage” in Barcelona, a city to which he

10
moved as a child and to which he returned after spending some time in
Switzerland.
After the First World War, Ferrándiz remained in contact with doctors
Forest and Kellogg, both from the United States. With them he learned
European and Eastern massage techniques, the latter thanks to the Chinese
and Japanese experts who lived in the United States at that time.
When he returned to Barcelona he put into practice the naturopathic
techniques he learned, including massage.
Ferrándiz compiled, classified and ordered the known massage
maneuvers. He called his technique chiromassage to differentiate it from the
others. The root of the term is the Greek term chiros , meaning hand.
Subsequently, Ferrándiz founded the Spanish School of Chiromassage , in
which little by little he trained his students.
The technique derives from classic Swedish massage, enriched with the
innovations introduced by Ferrándiz and with other changes that professionals
have been introducing over the years since the origin of chiromassage.

Fig. 6: Chiromassage techniques

4. BIBLIOGRAPHY

 https://www.masaje-deportivo-y-lesiones-del-deporte.pdf

11
 https://www.cimformacion.com/blog/salud-y-bienestar/historia-del-masaje-y-
origenes/
 http://www.manelmoreno.com/articulos/masaje1.html
 https://aulademasaje.com/evolucion-historica-del-masaje/
 https://www.emagister.com/uploads_courses/
Comunidad_Emagister_16221_quiromasaje.pdf
 http://eradaquari.es/cursos/terapias-manuales/quiromasaje/que-es-
quiromasaje-cursos

12