Massage Therapy for Health and Fitness

It may simply look like a lot of pressing and kneading on skin, but massage is actually a scientific process.  

 

The reason you feel different after a massage is because it is healing and invigorating tired, aching or injured muscles.  Massage increases blood and lymph circulation.

 

Lymph is a fluid that rids body tissues of waste, is dependent on the squeezing effect of muscles.  An active person has better lymph flow than an inactive person.  However, stimulation from vigorous activity can lead to increased waste, which can negate the benefit.  This is where massage has a huge advantage.

 

Massage can dramatically aid lymph movement, which together with blood, supplies nutrients and oxygen and assists in ridding the body of wastes and toxins.  It is easy to understand why good circulation is so important to our health and why massage can be so beneficial just for this purpose.

 

But Massage has so many other benefits:

• Increase the blood’s oxygen capacity by 10-15%

• Help loosen contracted, shortened muscles and stimulate weak, flaccid muscles.  This muscle “balancing” can even help posture and promote more efficient movement

• Speed recovery from exercise-induced fatigue

• Increase production of gastric juices, saliva and urine

• Increase excretion of nitrogen, inorganic phosphorus, and sodium chloride (salt). This suggests that the metabolic rate increases

• Balance the nervous system by soothing or stimulating it, depending on which effect is needed

• Improves function of the oil and sweat glands that lubricate, clean and cool the skin. Though, inflexible skin can become softer and more supple

• Indirectly or directly stimulating nerves the supply internal organs can dilate the organs’ blood vessels, improving blood supply.

 

Massage and Sport Massage plays a part in every form of sport or exercise. Unfortunately, many people believe aches and pains are an inevitable consequence to activity.

 

Massage can actually reduce or eliminate what may appear to be exercise-induced pain.  It can increase endurance, control fatigue and help people feel better when used as part of a regular health program.

 

Massage can also speed muscle recovery rates as it eliminates irritation from waste.  By helping reduce fatigue and aid recovery, massage enables more productive training, with longer, more effective workouts.

 

The ultimate spin-offs are better performance with fewer injuries. Exercise changes the way our muscles work.  Blood vessels become more intricate as the body demands more oxygen and nutrients and increases waste elimination. This takes time. While the muscles are getting into shape, they can struggle to get enough oxygen and nutrients, so waste collects.

 

Massage and Injuries

 

Massage also helps recovery from soft tissue injuries such as sprains and strains. Tissue growth and repair is accelerated by efficient circulation and appropriate stimulation. Everybody experiences some form of stress through work, family, the environment and society. Mental tensions, frustrations, and insecurity cause the most damage. Hormones released by stress actually shrink the vessels, inhibiting circulation. A stressed mind and body means the heart works harder. Breathing becomes rapid and shallow and digestion slows. Nearly every body process is degraded. Studies show stress can cause migraines, hypertension (high blood pressure), depression, some peptic ulcers, etc. In fact, researchers have estimated 80% of disease is stress related. Soothing and relaxing massage therapy can counteract the effects of stress.

 

What Injuries can Massage Treat?

• Headaches & migraines

• Frozen shoulder

• Sore shoulder and neck

• Back pain & sciatica

• Tennis and golfers elbow

• Sprains, strains and tears

• Over-use injuries

• Shin splints