Benefits of Massage
Nervous System
Stimulating Effects
- Excites dull nerves
- Increases nervous irritability
- Stimulates peripheral nerves
- Clears nerve pathway for improved impulse flow & balance
Sedative Effects
- Relaxes impulses from CNS - stopping minor muscle spasms
- Producing calming effect over large muscle area
- Total body coverage calms & balances the nervous system
- Released muscle tension allows for the release of repressed emotions
- Causes thoughts to focus on the “here & now” and away from preoccupation with problems
- Relaxes spasticity of the involuntary nervous system, allowing for a greater supply of blood to the brain & nervous system
Muscular System
Improving Tone
- Muscles become firmer & more elastic due to improved homeostasis on the cellular level
- Strengthen & balances weakened muscles
- Improves circulation
- Detoxifies the muscles
- Causes rapid contraction of muscles - corrective
- Balances nervous system allowing for improved muscle tone
- Pumps Lymphatic fluids helping with muscular detoxification and reducing of edemas
Relaxing tension in muscles
- Relieves muscular pain
- Relieves pulls on joints
- Removes muscle fatigue faster then resting does
- Allows muscles to recover more quickly
- Greater exchange of nutrients and waste for overall health
- Allows a person to rest/sleep better for improved health
- Allows for better structural alignment
- Relieves muscle & joint stiffness
Adhesions & other adherent factors may be resolved to prevent/correct the following:
- Atrophy
- Paralysis
- Painful crippling conditions
Circulatory System
- Improves the quality of blood to an area
- Improves Lymphatic Drainage
- Lessens demand placed on the heart
- Cellular exchange is improved
- Blood manufacturing process is improved
- Pressure against blood vessel walls tones them
- Hastens blood flow through superficial veins
- Stimulates blood flow through deeper arteries
- Stimulation of nerve receptors causes blood vessels to dilate
- Oxygen capacity of the blood can increase by 10-15% after a massage
- Longer lasting dilation and flushing
- Contraction of blood vessels
Respiratory System
- Increase mobility of the chest
- Promotes lung expansion
- Relaxes uptight breathing
Integumentary System (skin)
- Skin condition is enhanced, lubricated. Cleaned. Cooled and more supple with improved tone
- Minimizes wrinkles in the dermal layer
Other Areas Affected
- Increase the body’s secretions & excretions (gastric juices, saliva, urine/nitrogen, inorganic phosphorus and salt)
- Drains internal organs and enhances their functions
- Assists people to feel better about themselves psychologically
- Improves performance & endurance by lowering the fatigue level during competition
- Moves lactic acid & carbonic acids which irritate muscles & causes soreness
- Hastens the recovery of injuries such as sprains, strains, breaks and tears by removing edema and toxic back-up
- Reverses stress which produces vasoconstriction hormones
- Reduces the tendency towards other stress disorders such as heart attacks, migraines, hypertension, depression, etc
- Helps tired, aching feet and legs
- Relieves congestion in head, nose and face from colds & sinus problems
- Helps break the PAIN CYCLE
- Helps insomnia
- Promotes good digestion and regularity
- Shortens post-convalescent time after surgery
- Helps relieve the discomfort of pregnancy & child birth
- Helps to relieve overcompensation that results from casted limbs and misalignment
- Massage replaces exercise for those unable to exercise on their own
- Restores the ability to exercise
- Can be helpful as an adjunct to weight reduction programs
- Increases body awareness