Massage is the manipulation of soft tissue effecting a change in the surrounding tissue and structures. Our bodies and posture are held in balance by the muscular system. In order for you to stand still there are various muscles throughout the body constantly tightening and slackening to maintain the stillness that you desire.

If one or more of your muscles becomes too tight or slack, then your posture will be thrown out and your body will deliberately put other muscles out of their normal state of tone to compensate. If this is not corrected, it will over a period of time, be accepted by your body and you will have a permanent imbalance.

You will become accustomed to this over time and quite probably will not notice that you have a dysfunction until you try to do something which requires a normal full range of movement.

This is where massage therapy comes into its own for if the muscles being worked are too tight they will be relaxed and stretch, however if they are too slack then they will be toned and tightened.

If a joint is too tight causing stiffness then it will be released, or if too slack then it will be tightened, rather the surrounding tissue that holds it in its proper alignment will be adjusted.

This is the main physical property to massage but it does have a pronounced effect on all the systems of your body, as well as relaxing you mentally and reducing emotional turmoil.

General Benefits of Massage Therapy:

Massage … feels good and it is a pleasurable experience.

• increases your body self awareness and sensitivity.
• reduces your stress, tension and anxiety levels.
• calms the nervous system and has a centering/balancing effect.
• helps to improve and maintain your posture.
• relaxes, focuses and clears your mind.
• helps to fulfill your need for a caring and nurturing touch.
• encourages self-esteem and a general feeling of well-being.
• increases your awareness of the whole being connection and improves your emotional awareness.

Benefits to your muscular system:

Massage… increases the blood supply and nutrition to your muscles.

• helps your muscles recover more quickly from exertion and fatigue.
• relaxes your muscles, effectively reducing spasms, tension and cramping.
• reduces and breaks down adhesions (knots) and fibrosis.
• stretches your connective tissue.
• helps to re-establish your proper muscular tone.
• reduces your muscle and soft tissue pain.
• supports increased work capacity and encourages your metabolism.
• helps to prevent muscular atrophy (wasting from injury and paralysis).

Part Two of a Four Part Series

Benefits of Massage for the Skeletal System
Massage improves the circulation and nutrition of the joints and helps increase your range of movement.

• Reduces joint strain and compression through releasing tight muscles and tendons.
• Increases the ease and efficiency of your movements.
• Massage helps to increase the retention of nitrogen, phosphorous and sulphur in the bones which aids in fracture healing.

Benefits of Massage for the Circulatory System
Massage, via the mechanical actions on the soft tissues, produces a dilation of the blood vessels which helps to improve your circulation.

• Helps to reduce the lack of blood and by direct pressure and stimulation reduces pain due to the irritation of nerves that control your circulatory system
• Enhances the elimination of the waste products of your metabolism.
• Helps to reduce any swelling and contusions.
• Increases the number of red blood cells in your circulation.

Massage has the overall effect of lowering your blood pressure and reducing your pulse rate.

• Facilitates tissue healing through the enhancement of circulation.
• Increases tissue fluid and assists lymphatic circulation thus reducing swelling and enhancing the immune and filtering activities of this system.
• Increases both your venous and lymphatic flow.

Benefits of Massage for the Nervous System
Massage can have a sedative, stimulating or even exhausting effect on the nervous system depending on the type and length of treatment given.

• Stimulates the touch, pressure and proprioceptive receptors of the skin and underlying tissue.
• Helps to balance the autonomic nervous system.
• Calms the nervous system and has a centering/balancing effect.
• Helps to improve and maintain your posture.
• Relaxes the muscles and helps to re-establish proper tonus through its effect on the neuromuscular reflex pathways.

Benefits of Massage for the Nervous System
Massage is known to affect the neurotransmitters of the brain and increase endorphin secretion in particular (natural painkillers).

• Can help reduce nerve entrapment through the release of soft tissue or muscular binding.
• Can reduce nerve root compression caused by muscular tension.

Benefits of Massage for Digestive and Excretory Systems
Massage aides the normal movement throughout your alimentary canal assisting with many dysfunctions through its stress releasing effects.

• Increases the excretion (via the kidneys) of fluids and waste products of protein metabolism, inorganic phosphorous and salt in normal individuals.
• Can facilitate elimination through the large intestines by mechanically stimulating peristalsis and improving tone.
• Stimulates peristalsis and can reduce cramping or spasm in the digestive tract.

Benefits of Massage for the Skin
Massage helps to reduce tension in the skin and adjoining tissues as well as increasing its circulation and improve its nutrition.

• Depending on the medium used to apply, massage can help to re-moisturize and soften dry skin.
• Can help with some skin conditions like eczema, but please check with your doctor to make sure that what you have is not contagious.

Benefits of Massage for the Respiratory System
Massage deepens and normalizes the breathing pattern through relaxation, and release of tension in the breathing structures, both the rib cage and the muscles of respiration.

• Can help to relieve congestion in the lungs through percussive and compressive movements.
• Increases the action of the heart, stimulating the blood flow to and from the lungs, helping with the elimination of waste and the absorption of oxygen.

Part Three of a Four Part Series

Who Can Benefit From Clinical Massage Therapy?
If you suffer from any of the following disorders, you may benefit from clinical massage:

• Any chronic muscle or joint pain.
• A known condition of referred pain, such as “when my neck gets tense I get a headache.”
• Any recurring symptoms that seems to accompany or is precipitated by muscle tightness.
• Tight muscles that limit the mobility of a joint.
• Chronically fatigued muscles.
• Low energy level, especially when accompanied by muscle aches and pains.
• A recent muscle injury that generates pain or dysfunction in areas not seemingly involved in the injury.
• Any visceral dysfunction that tests negative for conventional causes.
• Muscle pain that recurs in an area with no apparent new cause.
• A tendency for pain to spread to other muscles whenever a simple strain or injury occurs.

People find that therapeutic massage can help with a wide range of medical conditions, including:

• Allergies
• Anxiety
• Arthritis (both osteoarthritis & rheumatoid arthritis)
• Asthma and bronchitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Chronic and acute pain
• Circulatory problems
• Depression
• Digestive disorders, including spastic colon, constipation and diarrhea
• Gastrointestinal disorders (including spastic colon, colic and constipation)
• Headache, especially when due to muscle tension
• Immune function disorders
• Insomnia
• Myofascial pain (a condition of the tissue connecting the muscles)

Massage for Pain Control:
Massage is a very effective technique for controlling pain. How does it work? There are a number of ways massage may help in controlling pain.

Massage confuses the body’s pain signals:
Rubbing may interfere with pain signals’ pathways to your brain, a process called the “gate control theory,” according to experts. Pain impulses run toward the spinal cord and then up the cord and into the brain. It is only when they reach the brain that these impulses, are perceived as pain. When you rub, it sends other impulses along the same nerves. When all these impulses try to reach the brain through nerves, the nerves get clogged like a highway during morning rush hour. The result? Most of them won’t reach the brain. And if the pain signal does not reach the brain, you won’t feel the pain. Thus, massage works by ‘closing the gate’ that pain impulses have to pass through.

Massage also calls up the body’s natural painkillers.
It stimulates the release of endorphins, the morphine-like substances that the body manufactures, into the brain and nervous system.

Massage provides deep relaxation.
It relieves muscle tension, spasm and stiffness all of which contribute to pain. Experts suggest that tense muscles are usually deprived of oxygen, because the tightness reduces blood circulation to the area. Massage improves blood circulation, bringing with it what the muscle needs - oxygen and other forms of nourishment. The muscle then relaxes and pain decreases.

Massage relieves mental stress and anxiety.
Massage provides the therapeutic value of touching that helps a person in pain. Research shows that even touch lasting for less than 1 second has the ability to make people feel better. Obviously, an hour-long touch provided by massage has to make you feel great!

What Types of Pain Can Massage Help?
Massage can help any pain originating from muscle tension: head, back, neck, and shoulder pain all can benefit from massage. Releasing tightness and tension in muscles is the most obvious effect of a good massage. Massage can also be beneficial for relieving pain associated with arthritis, injuries, or even recent surgery.

Part Four of a Four Part Series

Therapeutic Massage Is Beneficial in Combating Aging
Therapeutic massage is effective in combating the negative effects of aging noticed in the middle to late years of life. It helps keep body tissues and basic functions in a more youthful state.
Enhances tissue elasticity and joint flexibility
Improves blood and lymph circulation
Promotes healthy vibrant skin
Improves immune system functioning
Relieves muscle aches and stiffness
Deep massage helps break up the dimples. When combined with a sensible diet and weight loss program, even stubborn fat pockets can be removed.

Massage – Precautions/ Contra-Indications:
Certain medical conditions require the exercise of caution concerning the advisability of giving or receiving massage. If you are in any doubt, or if you or your partner are under medical supervision, check with your doctor or other qualified medical practitioner before embarking on massage therapy. This advice applies particularly in the case of cardiovascular conditions and heart disease, especially in cases of thrombosis, phlebitis, and edema.
Never apply pressure under or over varicose veins. Never massage directly over infected skin, for example where there are warts, herpes, or boils, or where there is inflammation, unexplained lumps, bruises and open cuts. While giving a massage, cover up any open cuts or scratches on your hands with a plaster or other dressing.
Massage on the abdomen is best avoided during the first three months of pregnancy when the risk of miscarriage is highest.

The causes of acute back pain should first be diagnosed by a physician before receiving massage treatment. Consult a qualified medical practitioner in cases of raised temperature, infections, or contagious disease. Seek medical advice before having a massage if you suffer from phlebitis, thrombosis, varicose veins, severe acute back pain, or fever.
Swellings, fractures, skin infections, or bruises should not be massaged. Lumps and swellings should be checked by your doctor.
Massage of the abdomen, legs and feet should not be given during the first three months of pregnancy.
Cancer patients are best treated by specially trained practitioners who know which areas to avoid and which kind of massage is appropriate.

-- Article retrieved from www.pentictonbb.com

Spa-Tucci’s offers a variety of massage by our licensed and experienced massage therapists. Choose from: Swedish Massage, Rain Drop Therapy, Deep Tissue, Pre-Natal Supportive Touch Therapeutic Massage, Acupressure, Reflexology, Tranquil Massage (Lymph Drainage), PNF (Facilitated Stretching) & Nakki Toas.