03/04/2023
The benefits of massage
Massage, one of the easiest manual therapies to apply with an abundance of beneficial effects.
Massage helps:
Decrease pain
Reduces muscle tightness
Increase blood flow
Increases muscle pliability
Reduces chance of injury and improves rate of recovery
Improves musculoskeletal mobility
Improves performance
Improved circulatory effects works via osmosis, the exchange of concentrated areas. Applying pressure causes an ischiemic effect (shifts blood flow away) which lowers the pressure, causing an increase of blood flow to the area when the pressure is lifted. In simple terms, massage increases the blood flow to the area. The importance of blood flow nourishes the area, improves healing and removal of inflammatory products (reduces pain). Fluid exchange is equally important to reduce fluid build up (oedema), when left, fluid can create fibrous tissue, creating muscle tightness and local adhesions.
Massage reduces muscle tone by stimulating sensory organs, this reduces muscle spasm and tension helping the muscles supple and pliable where tightness restricts movement. This helps increase mobility of the muscle, surrounding tissues, reducing pressures and pain on connective tissues. Reducing tightness overall benefits not only the area of tension, but the entire musculoskeletal system.
The effects of massage are not only physical, massage reduces stress and anxiety. Massage releases endorphins, serotonin and oxytocin - all involved with improved mood.
Massage is a simple but effective tool for owners for muscle maintenance to use at home in between physio sessions.