The Benefits of Massage

• Dilates blood vessels. Superficial blood vessels become dilated resulting from reflex action.
• Improves blood circulation. Deep stroking  improves blood circulation by mechanically assisting venous blood flow  back to the heart.  The increase of blood flow is comparable to that  associated with exercise.  The fact that local circulation during a  massage increases up to three times more than circulation at rest has  been documented.
• Decreases blood pressure. Blood pressure is  decreased by blood vessel dilation.  Both diastolic and systolic  readings decline and last approximately 40 minutes after the massage. 
• Creates hyperemia. Increased blood flow creates a hyperemic effect, which is visible on some skin types.
• Stimulates release of acetylcholine and histamine. These two substances are released as a result of vasomotor activity, thereby helping prolong vasodilation.
• Replenishes nutritive materials. Increased circulation aids in the delivery of products such as nutrients and oxygen to cells and tissues.
• Promotes removal of waste products. Increased circulation also aids in the removal of metabolic wastes.  The notion is often said that massage dilutes the poisons.
• Reduces ischemia. Massage reduces ischemia.  Ischemia is linked to pain and trigger-point formation.
• Reduces heart and pulse rates. Massage decreases heart rate through activation of the relaxation response.
• Increases stroke volume. Stroke volume is the  amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle during each contraction.   As the heart rate decreases, more time exists for the heart's lower  chambers (ventricles) to fill with blood.  The result is a larger volume  of blood pushed through the heart, thereby increasing stroke volume.
• Increases red blood cell (RBC) count. The  number of RBCs and their oxygen-carrying capacity are increased.  This  effect is due to (1) promoting the spleen's discharge of RBCs, (2)  recruiting blood from engorged internal organs into general circulation,  and (3) stimulating stagnant capillary beds and returning this blood  into general circulation.
• Increases oxygen saturation in blood. When RBC count rises, oxygen saturation of the blood increases.
• Increases white blood cell (WBC) count. The  presence of WBCs increases after massage.  The body may perceive massage  as a mild stressor (an event to which the body must adapt) and recruits  additional WBCs.  The increase in WBC count enables the body to protect  itself more effectively against disease.
• Enhances the adhesion of migrating WBCs. The  surfaces of WBCs become increasingly sticky after a massage, thereby  increasing their adhesive quality and therefore their effectiveness.
• Increases platelet count.  Massage has been found to increase the number of blood platelets.

• Increases skin temperature. Warming of the skin indicates a reduction of stress.
• Improves skin condition. As circulation increases,  added nutrients are made available to the skin, thereby improving its  condition, texture, and tone. Clinical observations have determined that  massage also improves the appearance (i.e., color and texture) of the  skin.
• Stimulates oil gland. Stimulation of the oil  (sebaceous) glands causes an increase in oil (sebum) production.  This  stimulation improves the skin's condition and reduces skin dryness.
• Improves skin conditions. Unless a condition  contraindicates massage, skin conditions may improve by decreasing  redness, reducing thickening or hardening of the skin, increasing  healing of skin abrasions, and reducing itching.

• Relieves muscular tension. Massage relieves muscular restrictions, tightness, stiffness, and spasms. 
• Relaxes muscles. Muscles relax as massage reduces excitability in the sympathetic nervous system.
• Reduces muscle soreness and fatigue Massage  enhances blood circulation, thereby increasing the amount of oxygen and  nutrients available to the muscles. In creased oxygen and nutrients  reduce muscle fatigue and post-exercise soreness.  Massage promotes  rapid disposal of waste products, further reducing muscle fatigue and  soreness. Massage interrupts the pain cycle. A fatigued muscle  recuperates 20% after 5 minutes of rest and 100% after 5 minutes of  massage.  A reduction in post-exercise recovery time was indicated by a  decline in pulse rate and an increase muscle work capacity.
• Reduces trigger point formation. Trigger point  formation in both muscle and fascia is greatly reduced by massage.   Manually separates muscle fibers. Compressive strokes and cross-fiber  friction strokes separate muscle fibers, thereby reducing muscle spasms.
• Increases range of motion. When muscular tension is  reduced, range of motion is improved.  The freedom of the joints is  dictated by the freedom of the muscles.
• Improves performance (balance and posture). Many  postural distortions are removed when trigger points and muscle tension  are reduced.  Range of motion increases, gait becomes more efficient,  the posture is more aligned and balanced, and performance is improved as  the net result.
• Lengthens muscles. Massage mechanically stretches  and broadens tissue, especially when combined with Swedish gymnastics  (joint mobilization and stretches). These changes are detected by Golgi  tendon organs, which inhibit contraction signals, further lengthening  muscles.  Massage retrains the tissue from a contracted state to an  elongated state, thereby increasing resting length.  This principle is  one of the principles behind neuromuscular reeducation.
• Increases flexibility. By lengthening muscles and promoting relaxation, massage has also been shown to increase flexibility.
• Tones weak muscles. Muscle spindle activity is  increased during massage strokes (e.g., tapotement, vibration).  An  increase in muscle spindle activity stimulates minute muscle  contractions, thereby helping tone weak muscles. This effect is  particularly beneficial in most cases of prolonged bed rest, flaccidity,  and atrophy.
• Reduces creatine kinase activity in the blood.  Creatine kinase is an enzyme that helps ensure that enough adenosine  triphosphate (ATP) is available for muscle contraction. By reducing the  activity of creatine kinase in the blood, massage indirectly helps  decrease muscle spasm, which increases muscle relaxation.
• Decreases electromyography (EMG) readings. Decreased EMG readings signify a decrease in neuromuscular activity and reduction of neuromuscular complaints.

• Reduces respiration rate.  Massage slows down breathing because of activation of the relaxation response.
• Strengthens respiratory muscles. The muscles of respiration have a greater capacity to contract, thereby helping improve pulmonary functions.
• Decreases the sensation of Dyspnea. Dyspnea (short or difficult breathing) is lessened as a result of massage.
• Decreases asthma attacks. Through increased relaxation and improved pulmonary functions, a person with asthma experiences fewer attacks after massage.
• Reduces laryngeal tension. Laryngeal tension may  occur from excessive public speaking or singing.  Massage reduces the  stress on the larynx and tension on the muscles of the throat.
• Increases fluid discharge from the lungs. The  mechanical loosening and discharge of phlegm increase with rhythmic  alternating pressures. Tapotement (cupping) and vibration on the rib  cage are often used to enhance this effect.  Phlegm loosening and  discharge are further enhanced when combined with postural drainage  (promoting fluid drainage of the respiratory tract through certain body  positions) and when the client is encouraged to cough.
• Improves pulmonary functions. Relaxation plays a  significant role in how massage improves pulmonary function, but massage  also loosens tight respiratory muscles and fascia.  The affected  pulmonary functions are as follows:
• Increased vital capacity.  This measurement is the amount of air that can be expelled at the  normal rate of exhalation after a maximum inhalation, representing the  greatest possible breathing capacity.
• Increased forced vital capacity. This measurement is the volume of air that can be forcibly expelled after a full exhalation.
• Increased forced expiratory volume. This measurement is the volume of   air that can be forcibly expelled after a full exhalation.
• Increased forced expiratory flow. This measurement is the volume of air that can be forcibly expelled after a full inhalation.
• Improved peak expiratory flow.  This measurement is the greatest rate of airflow that can be achieved  during forced expiration beginning with the lungs fully inflated.

• Increases urine output. Massage, Lymphatic Drainage and in particular, Cupping activate dormant capillary beds and recovers lymphatic fluids for  filtration by the kidney, which, in turn, increases the frequency of  urination and amount of urine produced.  Massage is also relaxing and  thus stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes  general homeostasis, thereby increasing urine output.
• Promotes the excretion of nitrogen, inorganic phosphorus, and sodium chloride in urine. Levels of these metabolic waste products are elevated in urine after massage.

Most people can benefit from massage. Below are specific conditions that have been documented to benefit from massage. 

• Alzheimer's disease. Massage decreased physical expressions of agitation (e.g., pacing, wandering) and improved sleep patterns.


• Anemia. An increase in RBCs and an increase in oxygen saturation in the blood suggest that massage is beneficial for individuals with anemia.


• Asthma. Studies indicate that massage improved pulmonary functions and reduced the occurrence of asthma attacks.


• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Individuals with ADHD who receive massage were observed to be less fidgety and hyperactive and spent more time completing assigned tasks.


• Burn victims. Burn victims who were massaged experienced a decrease in pain and itching and reduced anxiety before debridement. Massage also reduced feelings of depression and anger.


• Cancer. Edema, pain, fatigue, anxiety, nausea, and feelings of anger and depression were reduced when patients with cancer had routine massages. 

• Cerebral palsy (CP). Massage promotes circulation of blood and lymph and relieves muscular tension in individuals with CP. Increases in flexibility were also reported.


• Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Clients with CFS experience reduced feelings of depression and anxiety and fewer symptoms such as fatigue. 


• Constipation. Elimination problems are relieved through massage.


• Diabetes. Blood glucose levels, anxiety, and depression were reduced with massage. An increase in dietary compliance was also reported.


• Eating disorders. Patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia stated a reduction of depression and anxiety, experiencing improvement in eating habits and an increase in positive body image.


• Edema. Swelling resulting from edema was reduced with massage, as long as the swelling was not a result of inflammation or disease.


• Fibromyalgia. Not only were stress, anxiety, and feelings of depression reduced, but decrease in pain, stiffness, fatigue, and insomnia were also documented in individuals with fibromyalgia. 


• Headaches. Most headaches (muscular, cluster, eye strain, mental fatigue, and sinus) were relieved with massage. People also reported a reduction in headache duration but not always intensity. 


• High blood pressure. Massage decreased blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic readings) and helped promote healthy lifestyle habits in patients with high blood pressure (hypertension). 


• Individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The number of natural killer cells, CD4 cells, and CD4/CD8 cell ratio increased after 1 month of massage therapy. 


• Hospitalized patients. Increased relaxation, a sense of well-being, and produced a positive mood change for patients. Many attributed enhanced mobility and faster recovery to massage therapy.


• Hospice patients. Hospice patients experienced reduced pain and had a decline in heart rate and blood pressure, indicating decreased stress and anxiety.


• Infants. Preterm, cocaine-exposed, HIV-exposed, and full-term infants experienced less colic, less repetitive crying, and improved feeding habits and healthy weight gain.


• Injuries. Massage speeds the healing of overuse injuries, sprains, and strains.


• Insomnia. Inducing relaxation alleviates insomnia.


• Low back pain. Addressing trigger points decreases low back pain. Medical costs were reduced,  range of motion increased and promoted relaxation. 


• Lung disease (COPD). Strengthened respiratory muscles, reduced heart rate, increased oxygen saturation in blood, decreased shortness of breath, and improved pulmonary functions. 


• Multiple sclerosis (MS). Reduced anxiety, depression, improved self-esteem, positive body image and implemented changes to their lifestyle that promoted health such as exercising and stretching.


• Nerve entrapment. Conditions of nerve entrapment, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, and sciatica, were relieved by release of the myofascial component.


• Pervasive development disorder (PDD). Massaged children with PDD or autism spent less time in solitary play and had an increase in attention to sounds and their social relatedness to their teachers. Behaviors such as touch aversion were reduced.


• Poor circulation. Massage improved blood circulation.


• Pain (chronic). Pain levels decreased, most often significantly. The depression and anxiety associated with individuals with chronic pain improved, as well as their quality of life.


• Pregnancy and postpartum. Fewer obstetrical and postpartum complications, reduced prematurity rates, shorter and less painful labors, improved psychological support, and fewer days in the hospital after labor and delivery. 


• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Massage reduced swelling, pain, and anxiety and improved the mood of women experiencing PMS.


• Psychiatric patients. Decrease in depression and anxiety was noted with reduced cortisol levels and norepinephrine blood levels and increased dopamine levels. 


• Rheumatoid arthritis. Reduced trigger point formation, relief from pain and anxiety, reduced morning stiffness and edema, and increased range of motion of the joints. 


• Stress and anxiety. Stress and anxiety are reduced by activation of the relaxation response.


• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. The muscular component of TMJ dysfunction was addressed with massage, and reduced pain and dysfunction was the result
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