THE
BENEFITS OF MASSAGE
Massage relaxes muscle contractions,
spasms and relieves general body tension.
Massage dilates the blood vessels, thus
improving the circulation.
Massage acts as a “mechanical cleanser”
pushing along lymphatic fluids and hastening the elimination of wastes and
toxic debris.
Massage increases the blood supply and
nutrition to muscles without adding to their load of toxic lactic acid,
produced through voluntary muscle contraction. Massage thus helps to
overcome harmful “fatigue” by-products resulting from strenuous exercise or
injury.
Massage can compensate, at least in part,
for lack of exercise and muscular contraction in persons who, because of
injury, illness or age, are forced to remain inactive. In these cases,
massage helps return venous blood to the heart and so eases the strain on this
vital organ.
Massage may have a sedative, stimulating
or even exhausting effect on the nervous system depending on the type and
length of massage treatment given.
Transverse massage separates muscle
fibers, undoing or preventing the formation of adhesions and trigger points.
According to some authorities, massage
may burst the fat capsule in the subcutaneous layer so that the fat exudes and
becomes absorbed. In effect, massage combined with a nutritious but low
calorie diet can be an aid to reducing weight.
Massage improves the general circulation
and nutrition of tissues. It is accompanied or followed by an increased
interchange of substances between the blood and tissue cells heightening tissue
metabolism.
Massage increases the excretion (via the
kidneys) of fluids and nutrition of tissues. It is accompanied or
followed by an increased interchange of substances between the blood and tissue
cells heightening tissue metabolism.
Massage encourages the retention of
nitrogen, phosphorous and sulfur necessary for tissue repair in persons
convalescing from bone fractures.
Massage stretches connective tissues,
improves its circulation and nutrition and so breaks down or prevents the
formation of adhesions and reduces the danger of fibrosis.
Massage improves the circulation and
nutrition of joints and hastens the elimination of harmful particles. It
helps lessen inflammation and swelling in joints and so alleviates pain.
Massage disperses the edema following
injury to ligaments and tendons, lessens pain and tissue damage, and helps
facilitate movement.