A Study on Massage Therapy
A Study on Massage Therapy
Massage therapy spans a wide variety of therapeutic approaches, working to improve an individual’s health and well being through the hands on manipulation of soft muscles and other soft tissues of the body. There are three key benefits to massage therapy; physical, mental and emotional. The first states that massage therapy is designed to stretch and loosen muscles to improve the blood flow and the movement of lymph throughout the body, facilitate the removal of metabolic wastes resulting from exercise or inactivity, and increase the flow of oxygen and nutrients to cells and tissue. In addition massage stimulates the release of endorphins (the body’s natural pain killer) into the brain and the nervous system. The second states that massage therapy provides a relaxed state of alertness, reduces mental stress and enhances capacity for calm thinking and creativity. The last states that massage therapy satisfies the need for caring and nurturing touch, creates a feeling of well being and reduces anxiety levels. People throughout the lifecycle from the very young and very old to those in between have all found that therapeutic massage has been highly beneficial to their lives in some way. In the following report the types of massage will be defined and explained as well as a more in depth explanation on the benefits of therapeutic massage.
While there are a wide variety of forms of massage therapy and bodywork, all with their own theological or philosophical perspectives there are certain basic principals they all tend to hold in common.
Perhaps the most basic principal in this field is that improved blood circulation is beneficial for virtually all health conditions. Tension in the muscles and other soft tissues can impair circulation, resulting in deficient supply of nutrients and inadequate removal of wastes or toxins from the tissue of the body. This intern can lead to illness, structural and functional problems, or slower healing.
Movement of Lymphatic Fluid The lymph system is almost as extensive as that of the blood. The circulation of lymphatic fluids plays a key role in ridding the body of wastes, toxins, and pathogens. The lymph system also benefits from massage, particularly in conditions where lymphatic flow is impaired by injury or surgery.
Release of Toxins Chronic tension or trauma of the soft tissues of the body can...