Is Thai massage physically good for you?

[Thai at Heart]

No it isn't. I find traditional Thai massage more stressful than relaxing. The head twist thing ... that's just crazy.

Correct. I don't find Thai massage particularly relaxing, I do enjoy it in terms of releasing tension in my shoulders.

Problem is, the whole stop the blood at the top of the thighs nonsense is largely semi erotic so the remain e from one end is put somewhere else.

[Bkungbank]

All is good but very careful about back bone the vein is very near only this part needed to avoid as might land in long treatment to step on top are dangerous.

[DekDaeng]

Always keeps the pipes clear, thats for sure.

Who said happy ending?

All I saw was pulling fingers and toes, nothing else -

[bushwacker]

Sent the wife to get certified to help me in my old age. She is pretty good now and it really helps with lower back pain and general aches. BUT i do not let her or anybody else go near the neck. Just too risky and I think stupid to let somebody try to crack your neck. The base of the spine is not that strong and I find I can easily stretch and crack it myself without some over enthusiastic lady looking for a noise sounding pop.

The finger and toe cracking is just releasing gas in the joints that by them selves is not a problem. But again some ladies are a bit too energetic and can easily dislocate a member. I have had toes hurting for a month after a massage. Now, it they want to pull something ....

[sawadee1947]

Thai massage is NOT a medical massage as done by physiotherapists.. Easy as that. So Thai massage has definetely NO impact on your health, same as accupuncture. It's all about BELIEVE.

Dr. P.

[AYJAYDEE]

Thai massage is NOT a medical massage as done by physiotherapists.. Easy as that. So Thai massage has definetely NO impact on your health, same as accupuncture. It's all about BELIEVE.

Dr. P.

nonsense!

[Jasun]

It's best not to think of traditional Thai massage as a form of relaxation, but as a kind of assisted yoga. Stretching is good, as is any pressure that forces fresh circulation to specific parts of your body. Along with promoting tissue growth, it aids with lymphatic drainage.

And then there's the hand shandy.

[HerbalEd]

Thai massage is NOT a medical massage as done by physiotherapists.. Easy as that. So Thai massage has definetely NO impact on your health, same as accupuncture. It's all about BELIEVE.

Dr. P.

Properly done Thai massage does indeed have an impact on your health. How could it not? For that matter, even improperly done massage has an impact on your health, albeit a negative one.

Edited November 21, 2013 by HerbalEd

[x0r1987]

does anyone really imagine those 200 baht thai massages are done by someone with any real knowledge or training....these days there are so many around that it stands to reason the quality must be very low... they are probably useless, maybe also dangerous...in my opinion get a proper massage by a properly trained masseuse, otherwise just use one of those 10 baht massage chairs that are in most shopping malls.

I think for a lot of farang-centric regions.... Those massage shops, are not often really looking to offer massages... 555

[cyborgx]

does anyone really imagine those 200 baht thai massages are done by someone with any real knowledge or training....these days there are so many around that it stands to reason the quality must be very low... they are probably useless, maybe also dangerous...in my opinion get a proper massage by a properly trained masseuse, otherwise just use one of those 10 baht massage chairs that are in most shopping malls.

you have obviously never had a real massage at a real upcountry traditional thai medicine hospital. they are very well trained.

Presumably as well trained as the most widely know training school in THailand Wat Pho? I went there and after being forced into really silly and painful positions, my Ankle swelled up like a baloon and I had trouble walking!

Training? By who, people who have no real knowledge of anatomy, Biology or any of the relevant disciplines? Hell even Doctors these days are finally admitting that they are only now beginning to understand the basics of how the body functions, and you are happy to put your whole body in the hands of a complete stranger with an education probably equivalent to a 10 year old???!!! Rather u than me, I was stupid to try it, and I'll never make the same mistake again.

On the other hand, YES, old women with extremely strong fingers and hands can be very useful when directed to specific areas for deep and long muscular massage of properly diagnosed problems.

Wat Pho - Dangerous Ripoff

90% of other Thai Massesuse just poke, squeeze and stretch people with no reasoning behind what they are doing. You might as well just pay for a 16 year old from Cowboy, she will know as much about Anatomy if not more than the old womem, and the treatment will be a lot softer and safer.

Being stretched, pulled and pumelled by an uneducated and even badly trainied Masseuese is particularly dangerous to older people, luckily I was in my 30's at the time of my experience above.

Use your common sense, don't let anyone put u in pain and tell u its for your good unles it's a Doctor, and even then, do your own research before allowing them to do it!

your anecdote proves nothing

What a ridiculous response! LOL

Of course it means something, it's an ACTUAL FIRST HAND REPORT of experience, at supposedly the BEST training school in Thailand. I went in perfectly fine, I left limping like a cripple! I'me sure there are 100's of stories like that from there and other similar institutions.

[cyborgx]

Several years ago I was down south and quite sick from a cold. Stopped in at the local hospital for help and heard horrible screams coming from a curtained off area. Absolute top of his lungs screams and quite a few foul words. I was told the young man had a Thai traditional massage on the beach and it was a bit too hard. They dislocated his ribs. Docs were trying to set it straight.

From them on, NO Thai traditional massages for me. I had one done before that, but wouldn't allow them to pop my fingers or neck.

Perhaps 'broke' or fractured his ribs. Or at least cracked them.

Dislocated refers to a joint out of place, like the ball out of the socket.

The neck cracking always worried the hell out of me... had this idea of being paralysed for life!

In the 'old days' massage places did have trained employees,and often rows of certificates to verify this.

It even extended to some of those less traditional places.

Now a pretty face seems to be a qualification of equal or better status.

I agree. Yeah bursting fluid bubbles in the joints very therapeutic ROFL!

Any idiot who lets a complete stranger twist their neck to the point of making cracking noises, obviously has nothing rattling around in the head on his shoulders! Do they know where the sound is coming from? Do they know the structure of the bones, muscles and tendons around the head and neck? NO OF COURSE NOT THEY ARE USUALLY JUST OLD AND LOWLY EDUCATED FIELD WORKERS TRYING TO MAKE A BUCK TO EAT!

[cyborgx]

Thai massage is NOT a medical massage as done by physiotherapists.. Easy as that. So Thai massage has definetely NO impact on your health, same as accupuncture. It's all about BELIEVE.

Dr. P.

Well said. I think before too many people, including myself, jump on the bandwagon of this thread, we should clarify what we are talking about. Is it:-

1) Any Massage done by a Thai person in Thailand (excluding the ones with happy ending)

2) A specific method including SPECIFIC detailed and repeated actions, such as finger crack, back cracking, tendon stretching

It appears to me that most people are talking about (1) which can take the form of anything from a neck rub, to a full on chiropractor contortionist intro course!

Those talking about (2) should try to detail the kind of massage they are discussing/received to help readers better understand their support/dislike for it.

IMHO there are lots of old women in Thailand wandering around houses and beaches giving a nice soothing and sometimes deep MUSCULAR/ & TENDON massage. That can be both therapeutic and relaxing in helping circulation (especially for the elderly), and for the sporty person can sometimes help with injuries too.

My issue and I believe that of other like me here is that the "Formal" Thai massage that is taught at specialist schools etc contains some very dangerous and highly questionable "treatments" for want of a better word. and these "treatments" being taught and/or imitated by trained and untrained alike are both dangerous and some highly questionable as to their therapeutic effect.

I humbly suggest that if you have an old woman that comes once or twice a week to give u a nice muscular rub down then, or you are a sportman who knows enough about his own anatomy to be able to direct their actions in the right way to the right area then by all means enjoy and take advantage of their strong hands and fingers.

BUT, if given the offer of a "Thai Massage" by a complete stranger when on a tour, or you see an advert in a window for Thai Massage, respectfully decline and avoid them. If you don't and end up with strained tendons, dislocated joints, or even no feeling from the neck down, you'll only have yourself to blame.

Edited November 21, 2013 by cyborgx

[cyborgx]

Thai massage is NOT a medical massage as done by physiotherapists.. Easy as that. So Thai massage has definetely NO impact on your health, same as accupuncture. It's all about BELIEVE.

Dr. P.

I agree that a well trained physiotherapist is much more likely to give a more targeted and therapeutic massage.

On the other hand I disagree that Thai Massage has NO impact. and agree with HerbalEd that it can have both positive and negative effects.

[Water Buffalo]

It would be if done by professionals. I have stopped recently due to a lot of wasted time on crap massages. Fortunately never been damaged.

Edited November 21, 2013 by Water Buffalo

[Ajaan]

2 hours everyday is too much

Agreed...not more than once per week is considered the rule among Thais.

[dighambara]

does anyone really imagine those 200 baht thai massages are done by someone with any real knowledge or training....these days there are so many around that it stands to reason the quality must be very low... they are probably useless, maybe also dangerous...in my opinion get a proper massage by a properly trained masseuse, otherwise just use one of those 10 baht massage chairs that are in most shopping malls.

A couple of shops that I go to post school certificates for all the girls and they only do massages - no extras - no happy endings.

Always keeps the pipes clear, thats for sure.

When my favorite shops are closed, I have tried many of the shops around downtown Udon - many offer extra services; upstairs rooms, happy endings (your choice) and more.

FYI - I have a bad back and a gimpy leg, so I get a 'Thai Massage' about once a week. When my pain threshold is reached, I go looking for a masseuse. I do occasionally have an oil massage, because it makes my skin feel great.

[zydeco]

Try accupressure (not accupuncture) as an alternative.

[elgenon]

Where I go in BKK they are well trained and it is a nice atmosphere. But one time I had hurt my back in bed (no, it was a crappy mattress) and I went to get a massage to fix it and she made it worse.

[DualSportBiker]

2 hours everyday is too much

Agreed...not more than once per week is considered the rule among Thais.

Not true. Alternate days with a two day break is considered a max by the teachers in Prachinburi... once per week allows enough time for conditions to relapse.

Sent from my LG-P714 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[CharlieH]

2 hours everyday is too much

Agreed...not more than once per week is considered the rule among Thais.

Not true. Alternate days with a two day break is considered a max by the teachers in Prachinburi... once per week allows enough time for conditions to relapse.

Sent from my LG-P714 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Nonsense ! That would depend on the individual, the circumstances and nature of the issue.

You cannot generalise in that way. One does not fit all with muscular skeletal issues.

[DualSportBiker]

2 hours everyday is too much

Agreed...not more than once per week is considered the rule among Thais.

Not true. Alternate days with a two day break is considered a max by the teachers in Prachinburi... once per week allows enough time for conditions to relapse.

Sent from my LG-P714 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Nonsense ! That would depend on the individual, the circumstances and nature of the issue.

You cannot generalise in that way. One does not fit all with muscular skeletal issues.

Point taken. I was generalizing for the normally fit...

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

[MrHammer]

I'd say the majority are crap and hurt more than they help, particularly in tourist areas. Many masseuses also seem to think the farang is some animal made of stone which needs the absolutely hardest touch possible, or some might enjoy delivering pain to the rich whitey.

Therefore, I don't get them much anymore, the worst of them can seriously injure you.

However, I have a very stiff and tight neck and I went to one near Thonglor BTS the other day. It was hard and the elbows in the neck muscles was almost pushing luck a little much, but in the end right to the limit and not beyond. Lots of massaging neck and shoulders with thumbs too. Today I feel much more flexible and relaxed in my neck, so it clearly worked. However, I don't think it has much to do with the 'Thai' aspect of it and certainly not the dangerous elbows stuff, but simply a good strong massage with hands and thumbs and cautious pulling/stretching of muscles will do that.

[DrTuner]

Sure. For 100 baht you get bruises, dislocated joints and if you're lucky a busted rib. Knowing you can survive these and still escape the clutches of a murderous 40kg dominatrix will do wonders to your self esteem.