What is Massage Therapy and what does it do?
Briefly described here in the science bit
What is Massage Therapy?
The Therapy Dictionary explains it as this.
“Massage is a treatment which aims to relax, revive and heal the body. Using manual hands-on movements and manipulation of the soft tissues and muscles in the body, massage therapy works to promote healing and enhance a person’s overall well-being.”
What does massage therapy do?
Massage causes physiological changes in your body through the relaxation response and the mechanical response, together, these responses can produce physical and emotional benefits.
What is the relaxation response?
In a massage, a caring, safe touch is relaxing, your breathing slows, you might feel tired, your heart rate slows down. This, together with pain relief, generally produces a "relaxation response." Whereby you reduce the production of stress hormones and your body will relax. The chemical release of serotonin occurs in the brain which positively effects emotions and thoughts.
What are mechanical responses?
The physical manipulation in massage has two major physical effects, these are, an Increase in blood and lymph circulation also the relaxation and normalisation of the soft tissue (muscle, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments), which releases nerves and deeper connective tissues.
Improving circulation can enhance the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to muscle cells. This leads to removal of waste products. Which increases repair and allows the body to function more efficiently.
Touching the skin or applying pressure relaxes muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The releasing of the upper layers which can be reached by the massage therapist will have an affect the deeper layers.
Organs can also benefit from massage, as they share neurological pain pathways with muscles, bones, and nerves. When muscles, bones, or nerves are distressed, organs can sometimes reflect distress and dysfunction. For example, low back pain can intensify menstrual cramps and menstrual cramps can cause low back muscles to tense. Massage can therefore improve symptoms associated with the functioning of both the organ and the muscles.
The benefits of massage
Relieve stress
Relieve postoperative pain
Reduce anxiety
Manage low-back pain
Help fibromyalgia pain
Reduce muscle tension
Enhance exercise performance
Relieve tension headaches
Sleep better
Ease symptoms of depression
Improve cardiovascular health
Reduce pain of osteoarthritis
Improve balance in older adults
Decrease rheumatoid arthritis pain
Promote relaxation
Lower blood pressure
Decrease symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Help chronic neck pain
Lower joint replacement pain
Increase range of motion
Decrease migraine frequency