The Benefits of Massage
Flow State Massage involves the manipulation of soft tissues. It is often described as feeling good, although some techniques may include strong pressure that can cause pain.
Massage is believed to promote healing, reduce anxiety and stress, relieve pain in musculoskeletal conditions, improve sleep, ease chronic constipation (when performed on the abdomen), and boost white blood cell levels.
Stress is a part of life, and while it is vital for survival, continuous stress can lead to problems such as high blood pressure, headaches, and depression. While different methods may work for each individual, massage effectively relieves stress by lowering heart rate, relaxing muscles, and releasing feel-good hormones such as endorphins and serotonin.
By stimulating the lymphatic system and removing waste products, massage helps to eliminate toxins that can build up in the body causing pain, fatigue and poor circulation. Studies show that massage decreases anxiety and stimulates the immune system, improving overall health and well-being.
The benefits of massage go beyond the physical, affecting the emotions as well. Research shows that a one-hour massage lowers cortisol levels, increases serotonin and dopamine, reduces the feeling of anger and sadness, and improves the mood by reducing anxiety and boosting self-esteem and feelings of happiness.
A good massage stimulates the nervous system to relax, slowing down the heart rate, lowering blood pressure and enhancing breathing. It also decreases tension and stiffness in the soft tissues, promoting flexibility and mobility. Massage also relaxes the muscles, decreasing muscle spasms and improving range of motion. In a study of migraine sufferers, massage decreased the frequency and severity of migraines by reducing pain receptor activity at trigger points in the neck and shoulders. In addition, massage reduced the levels of substance P and inflammatory agents that cause pain in those suffering from migraines.
Massage has also been shown to improve sleep and reduce irritability in patients with chronic heart failure by increasing parasympathetic activity, thereby decreasing heart rate and blood pressure, and reducing stress and anxiety. In a study of 24 patients in the intensive care unit, massage was found to increase relaxation and decrease the incidence of agitation.
Regular massage has been shown to reduce the build-up of lactic acid, which causes muscular pain and discomfort. It can also help to release and reduce the accumulation of metabolic waste, which builds up in the muscles causing pain, stiffness and swelling. This can also be helped by the stimulation of the lymphatic system during massage, allowing the removal of these wastes more efficiently.
Relieves Pain
Massage relieves pain by increasing circulation and releasing tension in the muscles. Many types of massage are used to relieve specific injuries and conditions including fibromyalgia, chronic back pain and sprains and strains. Massage is particularly effective in reducing pain and discomfort associated with cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
One theory about how massage relieves pain is that it interrupts or overwhelms the nerves that report pain in injured tissue. These nerves are called nociceptors and they send signals to the brain to relay a feeling of pain from damaged tissue. When these nerves are overloaded with messages from painful areas they can become hypersensitive and the body experiences a greater level of pain than is actually occurring. Massage stimulates other nerves that can convey a sensation of pain, and these nerves send different signals to the brain that diminish the feelings of pain from damaged tissues.
Another way massage relieves pain is that it increases the body’s production of positive hormones such as endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. These hormones decrease stress, depression and anxiety while promoting relaxation, happiness and motivation. Increased levels of these hormones also reduce the level of inflammatory cytokines produced by the body, which can cause pain and swelling.
In addition, massage can boost the body’s immune system and increase circulation of blood and lymphatic fluid to provide the cells with essential nutrients, oxygen and toxins. Increased blood flow to the injured tissue promotes healing and can reduce pain by flushing out metabolic waste, such as lactic acid, from the muscles.
When deciding to get a massage for pain it is important to consult with your healthcare provider to make sure the treatment is safe. Those with certain medical conditions should not have massage, including those who are recovering from surgery, have open wounds, skin infections, eczema, deep vein thrombosis or fractured bones. Patients being treated for cancer should talk to their oncologist before receiving massage therapy as it may interfere with their chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments. They should also make their therapist aware of any sensitivity or allergies they may have to certain oils, creams or lotions.
Relaxes Muscles
When muscles are tight they become less able to move and become more rigid. This can cause stress to build within the muscle and also restricts movement, which in turn can lead to pain. Massage helps relieve this tension by improving the flexibility of soft tissue and reducing stiffness. This in turn improves circulation and reduces pain and tension.
There is a common belief that massage increases blood circulation, which in turn flushes toxins from the body. This is not completely true. Increased circulation does deliver more oxygen and nutrients to muscle tissues, however it doesn’t eliminate toxins as many people believe. To eliminate toxins the body requires an enzyme called cytokinase, which is not released during massage.
A better way of thinking about the benefits of massage is that it can break down and remove muscle knots, which are hardened sections of muscle that form as a result of tension. This is particularly true for deep tissue massage and myofascial release (trigger point) therapy.
The process of breaking down and removing these knots causes some soreness which is then followed by the release of feel-good hormones such as dopamine, helping to relieve stress and promote relaxation. If the techniques used during a deep tissue massage are not applied with enough pressure or are too forceful, the muscles may not be fully broken down and this can result in some lingering aches and pains in the days following a session.
Getting a regular massage will not only make you feel great in the short term but can help prevent injuries, speed up healing and improve posture, flexibility and joint health. So if you are looking for an effective and cost efficient method of dealing with pain, or just want to keep your body in peak performance, book in a professional massage today!
Different types of massage include Swedish massage, which is a gentle form that involves kneading, pressing or stroking the muscles. Other forms of massage include deep tissue, which uses deeper and more forceful strokes to target the muscles below the surface; sports massage, which focuses on a specific group of muscles that are used by a particular sport; and myofascial release, which applies pressure to pain-triggering areas in the connective tissue that surrounds muscles.
Improves Sleep
Getting enough sleep is crucial for good health, and it’s a common issue that can be caused by stress. Studies have shown that massage can help improve your sleep by reducing the levels of cortisol in your blood, as well as encouraging serotonin production which is a precursor to the sleep inducing hormone melatonin. This is why so many people often feel so relaxed during and after a treatment.
This is likely down to the fact that massage triggers the parasympathetic nervous system, which tells your body to slow down and relax, meaning it’s less prone to being over stimulated by the daily stresses of life. In fact, it is so effective at triggering this that people can even fall asleep during a treatment!
If you suffer from a sleep disorder, whether it’s insomnia or something else, incorporating massage into your routine could really benefit you. One study found that patients suffering from narcolepsy showed a 100 percent improvement in their symptoms after receiving regular massages. Massage can also improve sleep if you suffer from other conditions such as restless leg syndrome, chronic pain, anxiety or circulation problems.
Studies have shown that massage can reduce the time it takes to fall asleep and increase REM cycles, which are the deepest, most relaxing parts of sleep. By improving the quality of your sleep, you can feel more energized during the day, and it can have a positive impact on your overall health.
Aside from easing pain and boosting your mood, massage can improve your overall sleep quality by decreasing the number of sleep disturbances you experience. This is especially true for those who have a history of insomnia, as it can help to normalize the circadian rhythm and regulate sleep onset.
The best way to get the most out of your massage is to book it at a time of day when you know you will be able to relax into it. Aim for around an hour before bed, and try to avoid scheduling anything too strenuous or stressful right afterwards, as it can be counterproductive.
