There are dozens of different types of massages, all designed to aid your body in different ways. (Here is a good guide to a few of the most common types of massage.) In general, each type of massage employs different techniques to help alleviate pain in a targeted area of the body. That can mean the use of hot stones, an emphasis on stretching, or the use of aromatherapy, for example. If you are considering getting a massage, it is worth considering which type will work best for what you are dealing with and want to accomplish through the massage.