Massage has evolved from just a “feel good” experience to accepted therapy for some muscular-skeletal ailments. Massage has generally been considered as part of complementary and alternative medicine. Increasingly, massage is being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations—according to a recent Mayo Clinic communication.

 

Stress, pain, and muscle tension are very common symptoms in the action-packed world we live in today. Massage may help with anxiety, digestive disorders, fibromyalgia, headaches, insomnia related to stress, myofascial pain syndrome, paresthesias (pins and needles feelings), soft tissue strains and injuries, sports injuries, temporomandibular joint (jaw joint) pain, and other conditions.

 

The physiology behind the benefits of massage is unclear, even though there is much speculation not associated with objective scientific evidence. Don’t take this lack of understanding as a negative; massage does work—we just don’t know exactly how it works.

 

Theories abound revolving around the removal of muscle waste products—such as lactic acid—that build up after exercise. This occurs as blood vessels and lymph channels are opened, allowing for the elimination of these waste products without the muscles having to expand and contract, which is the normal physiological way muscles overcome fatigue.

 

Massage is purported to improve tone and prevent or delay muscular atrophy, although it is probably more realistic to think massage relaxes muscle spasms and relieves muscle tension. Interestingly, massage may have a sedative, stimulating, or even an exhausting effect on the nervous system, depending on the type and length of the session.

 

There are four basic types of massage with additional combinations and some less common forms:

 

Swedish massage is a gentle form of massage that uses long strokes, kneading, deep circular movements, vibration, and tapping to help relax and energize.

 

Deep massage uses slower, more forceful strokes to target deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue, which can be helpful to muscle damage from injuries.

 

Sports massage is a variation of Swedish massage directed to folks involved in sports activity to help prevent and/or treat injuries and overuse.

 

Trigger point massage focuses on areas of tight muscle fibers that can form within muscles after injuries or overuse. Trigger point massage can be helpful to people with fibromyalgia who have numerous trigger points.

 

The question of massage being beneficial for athletes has been discussed for some time as many professional athletes take part in this form of therapy. Massage can help relax muscles and reduce soreness which results in an increased range of motion and flexibility, which can help lead to a better athletic performance. Better science is needed to confirm this theory but, in the meantime, athletes continue to employ massage as part of their training regimen.

 

Another offshoot of massage is “ice massage” which is basically a type of cold therapy using ice packs or ice cubes applied to the body to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation. These anti-inflammatory properties are like anti-inflammatory medications prescribed for the same benefits. Again, obtaining scientific evidence would be helpful to confirm this theory; most everyone already believes in it, but you can be surprised by objective study.

 

In addition to the above physical benefits, many people enjoy massage because it often involves caring, comfort, a sense of empowerment, and creating connections with the massage therapist. However, massage is not a substitute for regular conventional medical care.

 

So, we have a therapy which helps many with few side effects. Never underestimate the power of the human touch.