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Massage is not just for relaxation
Effects and Benefits of Massage Therapy
The following list are the effects and benefits of massage therapy as well as aa list of indicated and contraindicated conditions that were comprised of my class notes taken out of several of my anatomy, physiology, pathology, and massage therapy textbooks.
1. Increases enhanced metabolism, hastens healing, relaxes muscles, and relieves, spasms.
2. Increases circulations by mechanically moving body fluids -- lymph , blood, liver, gallbladder, digestive juices.
3. Effective pain management for arthritis, neuritis, and neuralgia, sciatica, labor & delivery, of childbirth, headaches, and fibromyalgia.
4. Decreases pain by causing the release of endorphins (endogenous morphine).
5. Improves overall health of the skin due to increased circulation, increased blood flow to the dermal papillae of the kin which channels nutrients.
6. Improves overall health of the body systems due to stimulation of muscular, glandular, and vascular activity.
7. Encourages nutrition and development of the muscular system by stimulating its circulation, nerve supply, and cell activity.
8. Blood passes through muscles being massaged 3 times more rapidly than muscles at rest.
9. Muscles fatigued by work or exercise will be restored more rapidly than muscles at rest for the same duration of time, by massage.
10. Promotes faster healing of injured muscles with less scarring and connective tissue build-up. Massage breaks up adhesions mechanically.
11. Increases range of motion (ROM) in limbs affected by tissue injury, inflammation, muscle tension, and strain.
12. Passive movement (joint rotated through ROM with no resistance) benefits circulation, nourishes skin, soothes nerves, relaxes and lengthens muscles.
13. Active movement (voluntary, muscles are contract by the client) firms and strengths muscles, improves circulation, and aids functions or related internal organs.
14. Massage improves healing on stable bone fractures by increasing retention of sulfur, nitrogen, and phosphorus in the bones. Increased blood supply to the fracture area also improves healing.
15. Flattens adipose globules of "cellulite" This makes the skin look smoother only! MASSAGE DOES NOT ELIMINATE CELLULITE!
16. Friction speeds blood flow through superficial veins increases the flow of interstitial fluid (fluid between cells), thereby creating a healthier environment for cells.
17. Light stroking produces fast, through temporary, dilation of capillaries. Deep stroking causes more lasting dilation, and flushing of the massage area.
18. Light percussion temporarily contracts blood vessels to dilate.
19. Petrissage stimulates blood flow through deeper arteries and veins.
20. Frictions, and stroking stimulate lymph circulation
21. Massage, specifically compression movements, produces a hyperemia effect (increased blood stored in muscle). This occurs by stimulating the release of histamine (immune chemical) and acetylcholine (neurotransmitter), which cause blood vessels to dilate.
22. Increases blood flow to dormant capillary beds.
23. Decreases blood pressure by stimulating vasomotor nerves and other vasomotor chemicals.
24. Massage decreases ischemia, a major cause of pain.
25. Massage causes an increase in the body's functional red blood cell count by stimulating the spleen to discharge stored red blood cells, recirculating blood from engorged organs, and stimulating dormant capillary beds.
26. Massage is micro trauma. So, the body increases the number of white blood cells, (immune response) and the number of platelets (blood clotting).
27. Calms or stimulates the nervous system (depending on factors).
28. Relieves fatigue.
29. Reduces anxiety and tension by decreasing norepinephrines and cortisol (stress hormones)
30. Relaxes the entire body and promotes a feeling of well being.
31. Deceases depression by increasing dopamine and serotonin levels (neurochemicals).