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Massage therapy Health Article

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Definition

Massage therapy is the scientific manipulation of the soft tissues of the body for the purpose of normalizing those tissues and consists of manual techniques that include applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, and/or causing movement of or to the body.

Purpose

Generally, massage is known to affect the circulation of blood and the flow of blood and lymph, reduce muscular tension or flaccidity, affect the nervous system through stimulation or sedation, and enhance tissue healing. These effects provide a number of benefits:

reduction of muscle tension and stiffness
relief of muscle spasms
greater flexibility and range of motion
increase of the ease and efficiency of movement
relief of stress and aide of relaxation
promotion of deeper and easier breathing
improvement of the circulation of blood and movement of lymph
relief of tension-related conditions, such as headaches and eyestrain
promotion of faster healing of soft tissue injuries, such as pulled muscles and sprained ligaments, and reduction in pain and swelling related to such injuries
reduction in the formation of excessive scar tissue following soft tissue injuries
enhancement in the health and nourishment of skin
improvement in posture through changing tension patterns that affect posture

reduction in stress and an excellent stress management tool

creation of a feeling of well-being

reduction in levels of anxiety

increase in awareness of the mind-body connection

promotion of a relaxed state of mental awareness

Massage therapy also has a number of documented clinical benefits. For example, massage can reduce anxiety, improve pulmonary function in young asthma patients, reduce psycho-emotional distress in persons suffering from chronic inflammatory bowel disease, increase weight and improve motor development in premature infants, and may enhance immune system functioning. Some medical conditions that massage therapy can help are: allergies, anxiety and stress, arthritis, asthma and bronchitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive motion injuries, chronic and temporary pain, circulatory problems, depression, digestive disorders, tension headache, insomnia, myofascial pain, sports injuries, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction.