According to the National Certification Board of Massage Therapy and Bodyworkers, massage and bodywork affect every system of the body. Massage is an alternative therapy promoting health, preventing injury and illness, and speeding recovery. "Today, 39 million American adults--more than one out of every six--get at least one massage each year," according to the group. Massage therapy is effective in relieving back pain, boosting the immune system, lowering blood pressure, treating migraines and reducing anxiety.
How It Works
Massage, referred to as therapeutic massage, is a series of movements along the superficial and deep layers of skin, muscle and organs of the body. These movements, applied with consistent depth and pressure, elongate muscle tissues that have contracted from overuse, lack of use, illness, injury and unhealthy lifestyles. This depth, torque and manipulation of the tissues has a global effect on the body. Clearing pathways and enhancing liquid movement enhances chemical and organ functions of human metabolism. This clearing increases circulation and relaxes muscle tissue. The University of Minnesota discusses the relaxation response that occurs when the heart rate slows, blood pressure lowers, stress hormones decrease and the muscles relax, all resulting from therapeutic massage.
Why it Works
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, College of Public Health's Vince Lepak, PT, MPH, CSW, indicates that massage increases oxygen in the blood through vasodilatation of blood vessels. The University of Minnesota adds that massage manipulation increases blood and lymph circulation. This increased circulation normalizes muscle and connective tissue, releasing and optimizing nerve conduction. Additionally, the university notes that organs benefit from massage because they share neurological pain pathways with muscles, bones and nerves. Organs can reflect the dysfunction of other parts of the body, for example; low back pain can magnify menstrual cramps and cramps can cause lumbar muscles to tense. Massage can therefore enhance the functioning of organs and muscle tissue.
Different Types of Massage
The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that different types of massage have a variety of effects on the body.
A traditional Swedish massage provides long, gliding strokes of lighter to medium pressure to the body to enhance the relaxation response.
Sports and trigger point massage works specific muscle groups in an attempt to correct hypertonic muscle or correct soft tissue dysfunctions.
Lymphatic massage directed to the main lymph nodes and gathering points of lymph encourages the movement of blood plasma toward lymph collection sites for cleansing.
Bodywork such as Shiatsu stretches the muscles and releases the joints by applying broad and pinpointed pressure to muscle bellies.
Benefits
Massage is indicated for patients with adhesions, edema, muscle spasms, bursitis, tendinitis, tenosynovitis--trapped and inflamed fluid around tendons--strains and sprains. Massage has been known to reduce anxiety, enhance overall body relaxation and increase concentration. However, little evidence currently exists to substantiate the benefits of massage.
Research
The Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or CCAM, completed a 2008 review of 13 clinical trials. The trials found evidence that massage may be effective for chronic low-back pain. Clinical practice guidelines from 2007 by the American Pain Society and the American College of Physicians, recommended that doctors and practitioners consider CAM therapies, including massage, acupuncture and chiropractic for clients that do not respond well to conventional treatment for chronic low-back pain. CAM also notes that massage may stimulate chemicals that block pain signals sent to the brain. Therapeutic massage may encourage the release of serotonin or endorphins causing beneficial mechanical changes in the body. However, the efficacy of massage is under research and additional studies are underway to test these theories.
References
- National Certification Board Of Massage Therapy and Bodywork: About massage
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Massage Therapy an Introduction
- University of Minnesota: How Does Massage Work
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, College of Public Health
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Massage
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