In order to live an active life, you need strong, healthy muscles. In addition to getting regular exercise, massage therapy is one of the best ways to help keep your muscles in good condition. However, while beliefs about the benefits of massage therapy are promising, they are not yet conclusive. Consult your doctor before trying massage therapy for the first time.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is a bodywork technique that involves using the hands and fingers to apply varying levels of pressure to the muscles. Some massage therapists use special oils to make massaging your muscles easier. Massage therapy can be performed on almost any muscle in your body including the muscles in your back, neck, arms, legs, hands and feet. Depending on your preference, you can receive a massage while you sit up in a chair or while you lie down on a special massage table. Deep tissue massage, Swedish massage and trigger point massage are some of the most common and popular massage therapy techniques.
Massage Therapy Benefits
Massage therapy is often used to help relieve muscle pain and stiffness associated with back pain, neck pain, sports injuries, muscle strain and fibromyalgia. During a deep tissue massage, massage therapists use strong pressure to penetrate deep down into your muscle tissue and relieve trapped tension. The Swedish massage technique involves using a varied combination of vigorous strokes to help stimulate circulation in your muscle tissue. During a trigger point massage, massage therapists concentrate solely on specific problem spots known as trigger points to help reduce painful pressure.
How Massage Works
Scientists are not sure exactly how massage therapy may work to relieve muscle pain and maintain muscle health. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, some scientists speculate that massage therapy may work by blocking pain signals sent to your brain. Other scientists suggest that massage therapy may trigger the release chemicals called endorphins that naturally act as pain killers.
Warning
Massage therapy is typically considered to be safe for muscles if performed correctly by a professional massage therapist. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine however, potential side effects can include muscle pain, muscle tenderness, swelling and bruising around the area massaged. Do not get a deep tissue massage if you have a low blood platelet count, a bleeding disorder or if you take blood thinners. Avoid getting massaged on or near a skin infection, wound, blood clot or bone fracture.
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