Massage therapy has become an increasingly popular way for people to relieve stress, relax the body, and aid recovery and healing. But what exactly does massage do to your body and health? Science shows that appropriate massage can provide significant benefits beyond simple relaxation.
How Massage Works
When a massage therapist works on the body, a few key things happen both physically and chemically:
Physical Effects
- Circulates blood and lymph fluid which delivers oxygen and nutrients while flushing away waste and toxins
- Loosens and stretches muscles and connective tissue to improve flexibility and range of motion
- Stimulates nerve endings which relay information to the brain and spinal cord
- Promotes deep breathing and relaxation activating the parasympathetic nervous system
Chemical Effects
- Releases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine, the “feel good” chemicals that induce a state of calm and euphoria
- Lowers levels of stress hormones like cortisol that when chronically elevated can damage health
- Influences immune system cells and proteins for regulated inflammatory responses
By combining both physical and chemical effects throughout the body, massage creates integrated and beneficial reactions more powerful than each individual component.
Key Health Benefits of Massage
Decades of research point to impressive impacts of massage therapy for both physical and mental health. While individual responses can vary, some of the top scientifically-backed ways massage may improve health and wellbeing include:
Reduced Pain and Discomfort
Massage has extensively demonstrated potential to diminish sensations of pain. In fact multiple reviews covering dozens of pain-focused massage studies have decisively shown massage effectively reduces various types of pain such as:
- Low back pain
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Knee and hip osteoarthritis pain
- Headaches including migraine and tension headaches
- Pain after surgery or injury
- Labor pain during childbirth
The Birmingham Alabama massage works through multiple mechanisms – by blocking pain signals to the brain, stimulating natural painkillers, relaxing muscles, improving blood flow and more.
Enhanced Circulation and Delivery of Nutrients and Oxygen
The manipulative techniques of massage are excellent stimulants for increasing circulation of blood and lymph. Research confirms massage significantly enhances blood flow while also raising levels of hemoglobin and red blood cells for better oxygen transport and cell nourishment.
Improved circulation provides body tissues the nutrients and oxygen they need to maintain good health and function efficiently. It also allows faster clearance of metabolic waste and toxins.
Decreased Muscle Tension, Spasms and Inflammation
Muscles often harbor unhealthy levels of tension and soreness especially in the back, neck and shoulders. Massage helps relax contracted, overworked muscle fibers giving relief from persistent tightness and spasms.
In athletes and those with physically-demanding jobs, massage also decreases muscle inflammation caused by intense exercise or repetitive strain. The localized pressure seems to physically flush inflammatory fluids out of damaged tissues.
With regularly scheduled massages, these effects accumulate over time preventing and healing unnecessary muscle issues.
Improved Flexibility, Mobility and Range of Motion
The physical movements of massage combined with relaxed muscles allow for easier, fuller joint movement and flexibility. Massage loosens stiff, adhered connective tissues while simultaneously strengthening muscle elasticity.
Enhanced mobility and flexibility provides better stability, posture and performance of everyday activities. Those with limited mobility from conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia or paralysis often greatly benefit from even moderate massage.
Balanced Hormones and Endocrine Function
Hormone levels and other endocrine glands like the thyroid are essential controllers of mood, tissue growth and repair, metabolism, sexual function and stress adaptation.
Research has uncovered hormonal changes from massage that include:
- Increased serotonin, endorphins and dopamine for stabilized moods and clear thinking
- Decreased cortisol and epinephrine for minimal unhealthy stress responses
- Regulated insulin and blood sugars for reduced diabetes risks
- Improved reproductive hormone regulation for fertility and libido
The influences on hormone balance positively impact wide-ranging body systems, mental health and quality of life.
Strengthened Immune Defenses Against Disease
The combination of reduced inflammation and stress paired with enhanced circulation primes the body’s immune system for optimal function. This manifests in measurable ways like increased numbers and activity of immune cells and proteins after massage.
With robust immune surveillance and rapid response capacity the risk of illness decreases. Massage may then shorten duration or reduce severity of existing infections.
Effects appear most significant when massage is regular allowing immune-strengthening to accumulate over a series of sessions.
Aid Recovery and Healing From Injury, Surgery or Illness
The spectrum of massage benefits combines perfectly for helping heal wounds, speeding recoveries and preventing disease complications.
Enhanced immunity, circulation, hormone balance, pain relief and other massage effects accelerate natural healing processes in the body whether from trauma, treatments like surgery or illnesses.
Using massage early on especially shows patients have:
- Less post-surgical pain and need for pain medication
- Shorter hospital stays and reduced complications
- Quicker return to daily activities after procedures
- Less swelling and scar tissue formation
Adding massage to conventional medical care amplifies and compliments the body’s restorative abilities.
Determining Massage Safety and Appropriateness
While most people can benefit from professional massage treatments, individuals with certain health conditions should exercise caution, consult their doctor or avoid massage altogether.
It’s crucial before first massages to disclose complete medical histories including any:
- Bleeding/clotting disorders
- Anticoagulant medications
- Advanced diabetes
- Congestive heart failure
- Risk of blood clots or emboli
- Advanced osteoporosis
- History of physical abuse
- Vulnerable immune system
Based on disclosed medical information, massage therapists can then determine appropriate precautions, techniques and advice tailored to individual circumstances.
Even for healthy individuals, very intense, overly aggressive massage should be avoided as it can damage muscle tissue leading to bruising or delayed-onset muscle soreness. Communicate clearly with massage therapists on pressure preferences.
Seeking out properly credentialed massage therapists is also key to ensuring safe, high-quality treatment. Member practitioners of organizations like the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP) adhere to strict ethical codes and regularly update training.
Maximizing Massage Benefits
To fully leverage therapeutic massage for better health consider the following best practices:
Hydrate Well Before and After
Drinking adequate water and electrolyte-rich fluids allows the increased blood and lymph circulation from massage to flow freely while preventing dehydration.
Receive Massages Often
The most profound benefits accumulate from consistent massage every few weeks rather than a single session here and there. This compounds positive effects over time.
Combine Massage with Other Health Efforts
Massage powerfully supports overall wellness but works best alongside good nutrition, sufficient sleep, regular exercise and stress relief practices like yoga or meditation.
Experiment with Massage Variations
Many massage types like Swedish, Shiatsu, deep tissue, sports massage and more exist. Try different techniques to find the pressures and movements most helpful for specific needs.
Develop Trust and Communication with Massage Therapists
Discuss goals, problem areas and preferences with massage therapists at each session to tailor the experience while building an open, trusting relationship.
Using these strategies helps massage become an integral piece of maintaining good physical and mental health.
Conclusion
An ancient healing art turned modern therapeutic fixture, massage therapy profoundly impacts human health and wellbeing. Correctly applied massage influences the body on physiological, neurological and psychological levels with a breadth of positive effects.
Relief from persistent pain and tension, improved flexibility and circulation, balanced hormones and immunity plus accelerated injury and illness recovery represent only a portion of scientifically-validated massage benefits.
Yet the intimate, meditative, restorative nature of skilled touch resonates on an emotional plane too. Allowing comforting hands and focused presence to melt accumulated stress and exhaustion.
So while massage technically manipulates anatomy, more importantly it cradles our vulnerability releasing what burdens body, mind and spirit. Perhaps this simplest human connection matters most of all.
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