Matching the therapist with client begins with a good phone screen, according to Aimee Matchette of Elements Therapeutic Massage, with location in Elm Grove, Franklin and Whitefish Bay. Different therapists have different specializations, certifications and natural skills, and some massages are not appropriate for certain medical conditions. For example, a Swedish massage, one of the most common types of massage techniques, is very different than sports massage. Swedish employs firm pressure to promote relaxation and relieve muscle aches, and gets your blood flowing with gliding strokes, tapping, kneading and friction. Sports massage incorporates deep tissue massage and stronger pressure than other forms of massage. It can be used before, during or after a sports event to reduce pain and prevent injury. Another popular technique is Shiatsu, a traditional Japanese massage therapy in which the practitioner uses his or her thumbs and palms to locate areas of stiffness and stress and then rubs, squeezes and applies pressure to those areas.

For a deeper, concentrated effort to work out those annoying and painful knots, most spas offer deep tissue massage. The technique targets deeper muscle and connective tissue, addresses trigger points on the body and is used to get rid of the knots that you feel in your body, which are toxins that have built up. It’s common to be sore the day after a deep tissue massage, but drinking plenty of water helps to flush out the toxins.

Stone massage is a method that combines placing heated stones on the spine or between the toes. Combined with a traditional Swedish massage, it is used to reduce stress, anxiety and sore muscles as the heat expands blood vessels. Alternatively, some salons offer a cold stone therapy that constricts the blood vessels to treat conditions such as headaches and sinus pain and pressure problems. Hand and Stone Massage in Menomonee Falls offers a unique therapy that involves first using hot towels to get the blood circulating, then applying cold stones around the face, cheeks and sinuses to reduce inflammation.

Another method that has gained a following in the last 25 years is reflexology. This technique is used to address specific issues in the body and involves applying pressure to different areas of the hand or foot that correspond with different organs or body systems via energy pathways. For example, an area of the heel is associated with the lower back and a small area of the big toe is connected to the pituitary gland.

Lissa Claas, who practices reflexology and a number of other specialty techniques at Spargo Salon and Spa in Pewaukee, says a range of clients can benefit from reflexology; it is also more acceptable to people who don’t want their body touched.

Another massage practice that addresses a specific condition is lymphatic drainage massage, which can help breast cancer patients relax muscle tissue and increase lymph flow before surgery, and reduce pain and swelling post-surgery. (Patients should consult with their doctors before adding massage to complement medical treatment.) At Anew spa in Brookfield, lymphatic drainage is also used in conjunction with a treatment that dissolves fat and can help the body eliminate toxins.

"As healthcare costs are rising, many people are realizing they don’t want to rely only on medication to be well and are turning to massage," says Anew’s Amy Schoenholtz.