How Does Massage Work
The basic goal of massage therapy is to help the body to heal itself and improve health and well-being. “Touch” is the core ingredient of massage therapy. It conveys caring in order to heal. Masseurs or massage therapists learn about specific massage techniques and the sense of touch to decide the right amount of pressure to apply to each person. This helps them locate areas of tension and other soft-tissue problems.
Massage helps to overcome stiff, sore muscles and muscle spasm. How?
Overworked muscles accumulate waste products such as lactic acid which brings about muscle stiffness. Massage increases blood flow and brings fresh oxygen to body tissues, thus improving blood circulation. This helps to eliminate waste products, speeds up healing after injury and enhances recovery from illness.
Therapeutic massage has been incorporated into many health systems. It is used as a complementary therapy along with medical treatment to boost circulatory and immune systems to benefit blood pressure, muscle tone, digestion, circulation and skin texture.
Holistic healing therapists believe that regular massages help to release tension and enhance physical wellbeing and restore balanced health in the being. Massage forms the basis of other therapies like physiotherapy, aromatherapy, shiatsu and so on. Massage involves “touch” which has healing qualities for reasons beyond our understanding.
Basic massage techniques such as stroking, kneading, wringing, pummelling and knuckling, have been shown to stimulate physical and emotional healing by a mechanical and reflex action. There are various types of massage. Some focus on reflex points such as reflexology, shiatsu and chinese massage, while others focus on relieving specific health conditions, for example sports injuries and muscle strains are treated using remedial massage. The lymphatic system is stimulated using the MLD or manual lymphatic drainage. These are therapeutic massages which can last from just a 15 minute massage of the shoulder and back in a sitting position to an hour long massage given from head to toe on a massage table. These massages can be given anywhere and at anytime.
Mechanical Effects of Massage
Mechanical effects of massage means to press, squeeze and move soft tissues to derive physical effects. The type of massage technique used either relaxes or stimulates you. The body’s blood vessels are constricted when circulation is sluggish due to tense muscles.
Massage therapy induces relaxation with improved blood circulation due to free blood flow which carries oxygen and nutrients to wherever they are needed. Regular massage eases pressure on the arteries and veins and can normalise blood pressure. It releases endorphins – the body’s pain relievers and mood uplifters and triggers neuropeptides-molecules that act as intercellular messengers within the nervous system. It also stimulates the lymphatic system which carries products out of our body and protects us against infection. Massaging the skin releases peptides which affect the mind, stimulate the immune system and improve overall body health.
