The history of massage therapy

The history of massage therapy dates back 15,000 BC with European cave drawings depicting therapeutic touch. Massage was further documented in ancient Chinese medical practices by 3000 BC and was adopted in Hindu Ayurvedic tradition by 1800 BC. Massage therapy was commonly used in Greek, Roman and Arabic medicine by 850 AD and formal publications on Chinese pediatric massage and Japanese massage techniques were produced by 1600. The modern practice of massage therapy emerged in Europe in the 1700s-1800s with the publication of works recommending massage for disease treatment and the establishment of organizations to standardize training. The American Massage Therapy Association was formed in 1992 to establish national certification for therapeutic massage.Read less