The history of massage began in 3000 BC, when the Chinese wrote Cong Fu of Tao-Tse, the oldest book written about massage which was later translated into French in the 18th century. 2760 BC, Nei Ching or esoteric classic Yellow Emperor had discussed therapeutic touch.

The Egyptians for their contribution to the massage when creating reflexology in 2500 BC. Even the Indians participated in the development of massage when they established Ayurvedic massage.

During 500 BC – 50 AD, the Greeks and the Romans used a massage to relieve nerve pain and epileptic attacks and Olympic athletes. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, incorporating massage in medicine. In AD 130-201 AD, Galen, a Greek physician of the school of gladiators who rubbed before fight wrote a book about manual medicine.

Hundreds of AD, for massage therapy schools were established in China. Then in the 7th century year the Japanese developed shiatsu, which uses fingers to put pressure on acupuncture points for power generation. During dynasty Ming (1368-1644), Pediatric massage or tuina evolved into a higher form of therapy that is still used today.

During 1776-1813, by Henrik Ling, a master of fencing and the gymnast cure yourself of rheumatism through massage and created medical gymnastics and later formed the Royal Institute Central gym in Stockholm, Sweden. Then in 1839-1909, Johann Mezger introduced medical massage to the scientific community and the terms petrissage, effleurage and tapotement became family.

The effects of massage on the anemia is investigated by doctors and teachers in the city of New York in 1880. Four years later, Professor Charcot, a French physician who taught Sigmund Freud recommended therapy of massage in French medicine.

Skilled masseurs society was formed in Great Britain which offers education for massage, recognized by the school in 1894. A year later, Sigmund Freud used massage therapy to treat hysteria. During the same year, Harvey Kellogg wrote the art of massage.

The 1900 gave birth to different methods of massage therapy as a Jin shin jyutsu or the art of awakening of movement developed by Jiro Murai, created by F.M. Alexander, an Australian actor Alexander technique in Japan, naprapathy (1907), which originated in ChicagoMasaje Bindgewebs (1929), created by the German physiotherapist Elizabeth Dicke and Neuromuscular therapy (1930) created by Leif Stanley.

In 1937, Rene Maurice Gattefosse, accidentally discovered the healing powers of essential oils for a turnkey laboratory experiment and used lavender oil to calm him. He coined the word aromatherapy. Two years later, organized the Florida State massage therapy Association Inc. (FSTMA). Today, which is one of the oldest organizations of massage with 85 members.

The Act of registration of massage was made in 1949, and 1950 Francis Tappan and Gertrude beard wrote books and articles on massage techniques. Two years later, developed the Hoshino therapy, which is an official medical treatment in Argentina. During the 1960s, John Barnes will create myofascial release therapy.

In 1977-1978, Aston – pattern was developed by Judith Aston and Hellerwork was created by Joseph Heller. Both methods are forms of rolfing.

During the 1980s, was established the Association of bodywork and massage practitioners. Also, Watsu or water therapy was developed by Harold Dull followed by creation of Stuart Taws of Taws method or release of soft tissue.

In the 1990s, a protocol for fybromyalgia Syndrome was defined by the American College of Rheumatology and established the Research Institute of touch, which studies the effects of touch therapy.