Massage is often thought of as a massage therapist gently working out knots in the body. But we need to be aware that a massage is a total body experience that involves the entire body, including all of our joints muscles, tendons bones, ligaments, and other structures. Massage can create mechanical tension that is intended to increase the flexibility of muscles, resulting in a wider flexibility, reduced static flexibility, and greater active flexibility (biomechanical theories). Massage is a great way to reduce soreness and improve circulation of blood to the areas affected by the body.
Although there are many ways to describe massage, the most common usage of the term is in combination with the bodywork and physical therapy. The biological and cellular exchange is affected by the tension created by the massage strokes. There are three major types of massages - deep tissue massage, an auto-vibration or vibration technique and a compression type. Deep tissue massage is focused on the superficial layer of tissues close to the skin's surface. As auto-vibration and vibration techniques pull deep tissue, this massage focuses on the surface layers.
While massage therapy for therapeutic purposes can help in the treatment of chronic pain, it's not able to solve the root of the problem. Studies have shown this. Since the beginning of time massage therapy has been utilized to treat a variety of conditions including sore joints, cancer, and depression. The Chinese have been treating pain for hundreds upon years. China is where the idea of pain was first developed. Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture both employ massage therapy as part a holistic treatment strategy. Recent research suggests that acupuncture might be effective in certain kinds of chronic pain.
Massage techniques alter the electrical signals inside the body, which causes certain muscles or tissues to become stiff or grow. This helps to ease tension and provide a relaxation feeling. Aromatherapy involves applying aromatherapy oils to specific parts of the skin that are known to ease tension or relax. If you aren't able to invest in massage treatments, massage techniques can provide similar outcomes.
Compression massage technique is also utilized as a therapeutic massage. The compression technique is used to compress the muscles to lengthen them. Endorphins are your body's happy hormones. It has been proven to ease pain and improving the ability to cope with stress. There is some evidence that this method may help reduce the severity and duration of injuries sustained during sports.
Another use for the benefits of massage is in the treatment of injuries sustained during sports especially during a warm-up or cool down. When you are in a warm-up, the goal is to loosen the muscles, stretch them and improve blood flow. In a cool-down session, the aim is to reduce the effects of stretching and return muscles to their original length. Both can be beneficial in the same way.
The application of bio mechanical stimulation massage is now increasingly popular in the sport industry. This technique uses electrical and mechanical pressures to contract muscles. Bio mechanical stimulation is based on the premise that the body works through natural bio-mechanical systems. This is the result of the way that the body functions and how tissues respond to inputs from both the nervous system (and the brain). When certain areas of the body are tense nerves are able to send signals to the brain that something is wrong.
A further benefit that massage therapy offers is the alleviation of pain. Many times this is seen during professional sports, where athletes receive specific massage therapy that helps relieve the pain and lessen inflammation. Sometimes, it can be found in massage chairs where a patient may want to reduce inflammation of the spine to ease an injured disc or back pain.
