A professional massage practitioner’s trained and caring touch can have profound effects on your physical, mental, and emotional well being.

There is no denying the power of massage. Regardless of the adjectives we assign to it (luxury, rejuvenating, therapeutic) or the reasons we seek it out (a treat, stress relief, pain management) massage therapy can be a powerful ally in your healthcare regimen. When utilized on a consistent and frequent basis the numerous benefits of massage therapy are a salve for one’s entire being.

Researchers say “the incredible benefits of massage are doubly powerful if taken in regular doses.” Professionals at the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami explain massage this way: “The more massage you get, the greater benefits you reap.”

The Effects of Massage

The effects of massage refer to changes that occur in the body, mind, and emotions of the one receiving massage therapy, and the overall outcome of the massage session; such as, increased alertness, reduced anxiety, or relief from pain and muscle tension.

Different massage techniques are chosen for their specific effects. A specific massage technique can also produce a number of different effects. Massage practitioners who know how to apply massage techniques to obtain specific effects will be more successful in achieving the goals that you desire. The complexity of effects produced by something seemingly simple like massage is truly amazing. Everyone can benefit from the general health promoting benefits of massage.

The Health Benefits…

Experts estimate that 80-90% percent of disease is stress-related, and that 90% of all visits to a primary care physician are for stress related complaints such as headaches, backaches, neck pain, eyestrain, poor concentration, anxiety, depression, irritability, anger, high blood pressure, heart disease, ulcers, as well as physical and emotional exhaustion. Perhaps nothing ages us faster (internally and externally) than high stress. It’s a fact that massage can— without a doubt, help manage stress.

Releasing and managing built up tension in a healthy way with massage therapy will not only prevent expensive medical bills in the future, but will also give you the feeling of physical, mental, and emotional well being.

Generally we can view reasons, facts, and benefits on 3 levels.

Physiological Benefits 

Psychological Benefits 

Emotional Benefits 

There are so many benefits to massage therapy! If you’ve never had a massage before, now is definitely the time to get one.

Massage has feel-good effects that can translate into striking improvements in medical conditions ranging from anxiety to rheumatoid arthritis to burns.

Research continues to show the enormous benefits of massage therapy. The medical community is actively embracing and advising patients to include massage in their health care treatment plans. Many hospitals are also incorporating massage to treat post surgery or pain patients as part of the recovery process.

Massage can play an important role in treating illness or chronic ailments, and contribute to a greater sense of general well-being.

This following lists are just the beginning to how the benefits of massage can help you. The ever expanding research continues to grow.

THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS & BENEFITS

Massage has specific effects on the different organ systems of the body. It helps by keeping the organ tissues healthy and enhances healing to improve the function of the system as a whole.

Certain organ systems have pairings such as muscular-skeletal, circulatory-lymphatic, nervous-endocrine, and respiratory-circulatory-muscular, nervous-muscular. 

Since organ systems interact in myriad ways, the benefits of massage on any system impact others as well. There is an overlapping function taking place within the different organ systems while a massage is being received. EVERYTHING, down to a cellular level, is connected!! 

There are 11 major organ systems that compose the human body. This is where the term “physiological” comes in to play. It makes up the organic processes of the body on a cellular, tissue, or organ system level.

1) The Integumentary system (Skin): supports and protects, regulates body temperature, makes chemicals and hormones, and acts as a sensor organ.

2) The Skeletal System: supports and protects, makes movement easier (with joints and muscles), stores minerals and makes blood cells in the marrow.

3) The Muscular System: brings about body movement, maintains erect posture, and produces heat.

4) The Nervous System: allows a person to communicate with the environment, and integrates and controls the body.

5) The Endocrine System: secretes hormones into the blood that serve to communicate with, integrate, and control the various physiological mechanisms. 

6) The Circulatory System: transports substances through the body and establishes immunity.

7) The Lymphatic System: is a subdivision of the circulatory system. It does not contain blood, but rather lymph, which is formed from the fluid surrounding body cells and diffused into lymph vessels. The major functions of the lymphatic system are the movement of fluid and its critical role in the defense mechanism of the body against disease. It also returns excess fluid back to the blood.

8) The Respiratory System: exchanges oxygen from the air for the waste product carbon dioxide in the blood.

9) The Digestive System: breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and excretes solid waste.

10) The Urinary System: cleans waste products from blood in the form of urine and maintains electrolyte balance, water balance, and acid-base balance.

11) The Reproductive System: produces sex cells, allows transfer of sex cells and fertilization to occur, permits development and birth of offspring, nourishes offspring, and produces sex hormones.

Relieve: To cause a lessening or alleviation of something, such as pain, tension, or a symptom; to free an individual from pain, anxiety, or distress.

Stimulate: To arouse a body or a responsive structure to increased functional activity; to act as a stimulant, to invigorate, to excite (an organ, part, etc.) to activity. 

Increase: Growth or augmentation; to become greater in size, amount, degree, strength, or quality etc. (to increase one’s confidence). 

Reduce: To bring down, as in extent, amount, or degree; diminish; to restore a fractured or displaced body part to a normal condition or position.

Improve (Enhance): To bring into a more desirable, useful, or valuable condition; to rise to a better quality; make better. 

Develop (Promote): To make stronger or more effective; to aid in the growth of; strengthen (muscles)

Regenerate (Revitalize, Rejuvenate, Restore): To renew or restore (a lost, removed, ineffectual, or injured part) to grow anew; to produce again; to give new vitality or vigor to; to bring back to a state of health, soundness, or vigor.

Relax: To make or become lax, loose, less firm or tense (muscles); to relieve or become relieved from tension or strain.

Prevent: A safegaurd, protection, or precaution; serving to hinder, avert; to keep from occurring; a preventative agent or measure. 

The Muscular System

• Relieves soreness, tension, and stiffness; daily activities are once again enjoyable when your body movements are eased. 
• Improves muscle tone
• Increases flexibility, and range of motion for joints
• Improves the flow of oxygen and nutrients to muscles and joints, accelerating recovery from fatigue and injury
• Reduces scar tissue
• Breaks down, or prevents, adhesions (knots)
• Promotes healing of strained muscles and sprained ligaments; speeds recovery from exercise, injury, and surgery
• Enhances freedom of movement, and promotes better posture
• Prevents or delays muscular atrophy, resulting from inactivity caused by injury, age, surgery, or illness
• Increases physical confidence
• Relieves cramps and muscle spasms
• Reduces pain and swelling

The Skeletal System

• Improves posture/body alignment; proper distribution of weight on your joints will refine each and every movement and position required of you in your day!
• Relieve stiff joints
• Decreases inflammation
• Restores range of motion (increasing joint movement)
• Releases joint strain (releasing tight muscles and tendons)
• Releases restrictions in the fascia (connected tissues)
• Improves the circulation of fluids and nutrients to the spine and other joints

The Integumentary System

• Improves skin tone by removing dead cells and improving circulation
• Regenerates tissue, including burns, wounds, and wrinkles
• Helps to normalize glandular functions
• Improves elasticity of skin
• Stimulates circulation of blood and lymph flow to nourish the skin

The Circulatory System

• Increases blood flow (to tissues and organs), which can relieve much muscular and joint pain (especially associated with swelling)
• Increases the flow of oxygen and nutrients (to cells and tissues), improving and relieving congestion throughout the body
• Increases the number of red blood cells, especially in cases of anemia
• Lower blood pressure
• Reduces heart rate (helps develop a stronger heart)
• Promotes the elimination of metabolic waste
• Improves circulation of blood and movement of lymph fluids; strengthens the immune system

The Lymphatic System

• Aids in cleansing the body of metabolic wastes and toxic debris
• Increases the circulation of lymph
• Stimulates the immune system (strengthens resistance to disease)
• Reduces edema of the extremities (arms and legs)
• Reduces and helps to remove lactic acid from fatigued and sore muscles (allows for a quick recovery)
• Increases kidney action to remove wastes of protein metabolism
• Increases retention of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur to aid in bone repair
• Speeds recovery from illness

The Respiratory System

• Strengthens respiratory muscles
• Regulates respiration
• Promotes deeper and easierbreathing

The Nervous System

• Stimulates Nervous System = boosting energy and vitality 
• Calms the Nervous System = relaxing
  —Massage may have a sedative or stimulating effect on the nervous system depending on the type and length of massage treatment given
• Relieves restlessness and insomnia
• Relieves pain due to pinched nerves
• Decreases chronic pain
• Stimulates the release of endorphins (the body’s natural painkiller)

The Endocrine System

• Helps the body to restore and heal itself
• Develops of a restful sleep pattern
• Promotes appropriate levels of hormones (bringing the immune system back in balance)

The Digestive System

• Relieves constipation (specifically if a abdominal massage is given)
• Relaxes the abdominal and intestinal muscles (therefore releasing tension in this area)
• Eliminates waste materials
• Stimulates activity of liver and kidneys

The Urinary System

• Elimination of metabolic waste
• Cleanses the body of wastes and toxic debris in the body
• Increases kidney action to remove wastes of protein metabolism

The Reproductive System

• Reduces depression and anxiety associated with PMS
• Reduces excess fluid retention
• Helps prepare for the birthing process

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS & BENEFITS

One of the most powerful benefits derived from massage therapy is its innate ability to induce a deep state of relaxation. Massage therapy also helps you become more aware of your body (your unconsciously held tension). Becoming more aware helps you in recognizing tension as it builds. Thus allowing you to consciously release it before it can have a negative effect on your body.  

Massage’s ability to promote the release of tension through relaxation makes it a natural, enjoyable and inexpensive way to begin a health maintenance program. 

• Reduces mental stress 
• Promotes deeper, more restful sleep
• Induces mental relaxation
• Fosters peace of mind
• Decreased anxiety
• Improves energy levels
• Reduces fatigue
• Provides a relaxed state of mental alertness
• Improves concentration
• Enhances capacity for calm thinking and creativity
• Improves ability to monitor stress and respond appropriately
• Enables a person to make peace between their ambitions and limitations
• Satisfies the natural need for nurturing touch by a caring hand