Benefits of Massage Therapy

On the tissue level, massage helps to enhance tissue repair and to cause healthy scar formation. It improves the health of the connective tissue by improving pliability of the fascia and by breaking up adhesions and separating tissues.

The organ system comprises the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems.

In the integumentary system, massage stimulates sensory receptors in the skin, increases superficial circulation, removes dead skin, adds moisture with the oil or lotion used, increases sebaceous gland secretions, and facilitates healthy scar formation.

In the skeletal system it promotes good joint function, optimal joint flexibility and range of motion and promotes proper skeletal alignment.

The muscular system is the one most impacted by massage. It “milks” metabolic wastes into the venous and lymph flow, promotes specific and general muscle relaxation, promotes optimal body flexibility, relieves myofascial trigger points and releases myofascial adhesions.

The nervous system is affected by stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system (that is, the relaxation response), reduction of pain (as in the neural-gating mechanism), and sharpening of body awareness.

The endocrine system involves the release of endorphins (along with the nervous system), which are some of the “feel good” hormones.

In the cardiovascular system, massage increases general and local circulation, enhances venous return, reduces blood pressure and heart rate and increases red blood cells in circulation.

The lymphatic system and immunity benefits from massage by increasing lymph fluid movement and improving immune function via stress reduction.

The respiratory system is affected by encouraging diaphramatic breathing, relaxing the muscles of respiration and by promoting good structural alignment and rib cage expansion.

The digestive system is impacted by digestion being improved with relaxation and by facilitating bowel movements.

In the urinary system, massage helps by enhancing circulation to the kidneys and increasing urinary production and bladder tension.

The reproductive system is improved with relaxation, and massage promotes general breast health.

On the organism level, massage helps to improve growth and development in infants and helps with pain reduction by relieving muscle pain from tension and poor circulation, deactivating myofascial trigger points, activating neural-gating mechanisms and inducing the release of endorphins and enkephalins. Stress reduction is achieved by triggering the relaxation response.

The pyschological effects are increased mental clarity, reduction in anxiety, facilitating emotional release, and promoting feelings of general well-being.

These effects vary with the type of massage being done and the openness to healing of the mindset of the recipient.

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