Massage defined as manipulating the body to obtain a healthful response. I am just defining it as what I consider it to be. Massage has various roots in almost every ancient culture, from the bath houses of rome to lomi lomi of hawaii, India, to japan and so on and so forth.
Traditional Swedish massage, the most common form of massage also refereed to as relaxation massage attributes it foundation from Swedish movements developed by Pehr Henrik ling. He however did not develop Swedish massage it more or less spawned from his style of healing.
other names worth noting would be Dr. Harvey Kellogg and if you would like to know more about modern research Look up the touch research institute and Dr. Tiffany Field
This is just touching on what massage is there is a extremely vast array of styles and techniques that modern massage therapist are able to learn and have at there disposal.