Ancient and medieval times

Writings on massage have been found in many ancient civilizations including Rome, Greece, India, Japan, China, Egypt and Mesopotamia. A biblical reference from c.493 BC documents daily massage with olive oil and myrrh as a part of the beauty regimen of the wives of Xerxes (Esther, 2:9-12).^[6] Hippocrates wrote in 460 BC that "The physician must be experienced in many things, but assuredly in rubbing".^[8]
The Ancient Chinese book called Huangdi Neijing by the Yellow Emperor recommended "massage of skin and flesh".^[9] The technique of massage abortion, involving the application of pressure to the pregnant abdomen, has been practiced in Southeast Asia for centuries. One of the bas reliefs decorating the temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, dated circa 1150, depicts a demon performing such an abortion upon a woman who has been sent to the underworld. This is believed to be the oldest known visual representation of abortion.^[10]
In Romania some illnesses were treated by a massage in which the client was trodden on by a tame bear.^[11]

[edit] Modern times

Marathon runners receiving massages at the 2004 ING Taipei International Marathon

China: In modern times, massage in China has developed by absorbing western ideas into the traditional framework. It is widely practiced and taught in hospital and medical schools and is an essential part of primary healthcare.^[12]
United States: Massage started to become popular in the United States in the middle part of the 1800s^[6] and was introduced by two New York physicians based on Per Henrik Ling's techniques developed in Sweden.^[8]
During the 1930s and 1940s massage's influence decreased as a result of medical advancements of the time, while in the 1970s massage's influence grew once again with a notable rise among athletes.^[6] Massage was used up until the 1960s and 1970s by nurses to help ease patients’ pain and help them sleep.^[13]
Because it is illegal to advertise or offer sexual services in much of the United States, such services are sometimes advertised as "massage," hence the rise of the term "massage therapy" in an attempt to provide a distinction between sexual and non-sexual services.
United Kingdom: Massage is popular in the United Kingdom today and gaining in popularity. There are many private practitioners working from their own premises as well as those who operate from commercial venues.
Massage in sports, business and organizations: The 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta was the first time that massage was offered as a core medical service.^[9] Massage has been employed by businesses and organizations such as the U.S. Department of Justice, Boeing and