Massage therapy, at its most basic, is use of a trained practitioner’s hands, on the soft tissues of the body of a client to achieve beneficial results. These results are not just physical improvements of body function, but can help the mind and the spirit too. Some of the most immediate benefits are reduction in muscle tension, pain, stress and even depression.

Physical Benefits of Massage Therapy

• Increases circulation;
• enhances the immune system;
• promotes nervous system functioning;
• reduces blood pressure;
• relieves pain and muscle tension;
• improves mood, intellectual reasoning and job performance;
• positive effect on conditions such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, diabetes and migraine headaches.

There are various techniques that can be used in massage therapy. Each with their own specialized objectives to help the client.

Massage can help improve how you feel and how you perform. Depending on the techniques, here are some of the additional benefits achievable with massage.

Therapeutic Benefits of Massage Therapy

• Stimulate the nervous system to help reduce muscle atrophy;
• increase muscle tone;
• stimulate the functions of the skin or an organ deep inside the body;
• sedate the nervous system to help ease muscle tension, spasticity, stress-related symptoms and headaches;
• boost the functioning of the immune system and maintains health when done regularly;
• stimulate sluggish circulation or slow down the circulation of someone who has just run a marathon when using friction massage techniques;

allow better range of motion and support the connective tissue and muscles in becoming strong and healthy when doing simple joint movements and joint stretching

One of the main reasons massage works is because of how humans have evolved in the first place. We all have a basic human need to be touched. Not just humans, but all our mammalian cousins. This is an indisputable scientific fact. People do have aversion to touch in certain circumstances. Some people develop phobia’s or have had trauma that lead to personal space issues. Social mores often come into play. Some touch is inappropriate. A trained professional will be aware of these factors and will be better able to provide the feeling of safety needed to make the experience a healing one.

We see natural examples of healing touch everywhere. The way animals lick and comfort their young, or a mother cuddles her baby in the human world. Sometimes we all need a pat on the back… In Massage therapy the focus is on healing and only touching the appropriate areas to help the body in its natural healing process. Another example we can all relate to is how we all instinctively rub a sore spot like a swelling or even our sinuses when we have a headache. Because the body is an interlocking system, touch in one area may have a beneficial effect on another area of our body. Trained massage therapists know what to look for and are trained to know what connects to what.

So, the trained massage therapist “zeros in” on the instinctual comfort zones and applies effective manipulation of sensitive or damaged areas of the soft tissue of the body.

As with any health-related technology it is important to find legitimate practitioners.

In 1999, the American Massage Therapy Association convened a working group of established research scientists and leaders in massage to develop standards of practice.

A recommended research agenda was established. The Massage Therapy Foundation is now considered the steward organization for advancing research to ensure that massage therapy continues to be a useful and professional form of effective physical treatment.

Besides, as everyone knows, there is nothing like a great massage to make your day.