Bodywork (alternative medicine)

Manipulative and body-based methods
Acupressure Body work Chiropractic Manipulative therapy Massage therapy Manual lymphatic drainage Naprapathy Nuru Structural Integration Shiatsu Tui na
NCCAM classifications
Alternative Medical Systems Mind-Body Intervention Biologically Based Therapy Manipulative Methods Energy Therapy
See also
Alternative medicine Glossary of alternative medicine

Bodywork is a term used in alternative medicine to describe any therapeutic, healing or personal development technique that involves working with the human body in a form involving manipulative therapy, breath work, or energy medicine. In addition bodywork techniques aim to assess or improve posture, promote awareness of the "mind-body connection", or to manipulate a putative "energy field" surrounding the human body and affecting health.

Forms

Some of the best known forms of spiritual non-touch bodywork methods include: Reiki, Yoga, Pranayama, as well as other non-touch methods: Breathwork respiration techniques, Therapeutic touch, Bates method for sight training, Qi Gong, and Tai Chi.

The better known forms of manipulative bodywork include Alexander technique, Applied Kinesiology, Bioenergetics, Bowen technique, Chiropractic.Feldenkrais method, Polarity therapy, Postural Integration (PI), Reflexology, Rolfing, Shiatsu, Structural Integration, Somatic Experiencing, Trager Approach.

Massage

Further information: List of branches of alternative medicine

One form of bodywork is deep tissue massage therapy, and the terms massage and bodywork are often used interchangeably. While bodywork includes all forms of massage techniques, it also includes many other types of touch therapies.

Popularity of bodywork in the U.S.A.

According to a 2002 survey of adults in the United States by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS):

• Acupuncture was used by 4.0% of the population, with 1.1% having used it in the last year.
• Chiropractic was used by 19.9% of the population, with 7.5% having used it in the last year.
• Deep breathing exercises were used by 14.6% of the population, with 11.6% having used the technique in the last year.
• Yoga was used by 7.5% of the population, with 5.1% having used it in the last year.
• Tai chi was used by 2.5% of the population, with 1.3% having used it in the last year.
• Qi gong was used by 0.5% of the population, with 0.3% having used it in the last year.
• Energy healing and reiki were used by 1.1% of the population, with 0.5% having used it in the last year.

See also

Somatic disciplines

External links

• American Association for Respiratory Care
• International Respiratory Care Education
• American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia