EVOLUTION OF MASSAGE AS ONE OF THE DIRECTIONS OF MANUAL MEDICINE IN RUSSIA

Background. The article presents the evolution of massage in Russia - one of the directions of manual medicine. The study of such an evolutionary process is due to the need to comprehend the mental, historical and methodological foundations of massage, allowing to assess the importance of this direction for the treatment of patients. The content of the article shows the attitude of people to massage in Ancient Russia, illustrates its progressive development from the beginning of the XVI to the end of the XVIII centuries, describes the milestones of the development of massage as an independent method of treatment in the XIX–XX centuries. Purpose. Studying the evolution of massage as one of the directions of manual medicine in Russia, interconnected with the mentality of our people and traditions that are rooted in the long past. Materials and methods. The study was carried out through a theoretical method – the analysis of scientific literature on the history of massage, the history of medicine and, to some extent, the history of medical education. The authors in their theoretical study relied on historical and cultural approaches that allow us to consider the evolution of massage in Russian medicine. Results. Theoretical analysis of scientific literature made it possible to visualize in a scientific text the evolution of massage as one of the directions of manual medicine in Russia. Conclusions. The results of the theoretical research contribute to the history of medicine and medical education, are a source that allows us to rethink the contribution of Russian scientists to the development of massage as one of the directions of manual medicine in Russia.