Tag: therapeutic massage

How Massage Improves Circulation

Licensed massage therapists use the hands to manipulate the skin, muscles and tendons. It can range from light stroking to deep pressure.

Massage

Research shows that massage reduces cortisol and increases oxytocin, which helps you relax and heal. It may also boost immunity and help with certain chronic health conditions. Visit https://www.flowstate918.com/ to learn more.

The circulatory system delivers oxygen-rich blood to different tissues and organs, supporting healthy body function. Proper circulation prevents numbness and cold extremities, promotes healthy skin and aids the elimination of metabolic waste such as carbon dioxide. It is important to understand how massage improves circulation so that you can benefit from this therapeutic modality.

The cardiovascular and lymphatic systems form the core of your body’s circulatory system. Your heart acts as a pump, propelling blood through the network of arteries, veins, and capillaries. As nutrient-rich blood travels to the tissues, it exchanges oxygen and other vital nutrients with cells in the tissue. Once the blood has delivered its nutrients, it returns to the heart via the veins and is reoxygenated. Waste products, such as carbon dioxide and toxins, are then removed from the blood through the lymphatic system and excreted.

Your skin’s blood vessels are relatively close to the muscle, making them easy to stimulate with massage. The friction that occurs when your therapist skims the palms of their hands over your skin initiates physiological processes such as vasodilation and capillarisation, which boost blood flow.

Another way massage improves circulation is by facilitating venous return, the process by which deoxygenated blood returns to the heart. Techniques such as effleurage and wringing help with this by mechanically stretching the muscles and fascia.

Massage also helps with lymphatic circulation, which carries metabolic waste away from the tissues. This is a good thing because metabolic waste like lactic acid can build up in the tissues and lead to pain, swelling, and stiffness. Having good lymph circulation prevents this by flushing the tissues of the waste and facilitating the removal of the toxins from the body.

Massage has a number of other positive impacts on the body, but improving circulation is arguably its most well-documented beneficial effect. Combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, massage can be a powerful ally in your quest for a healthier lifestyle. The key to maximizing this effect is getting regular massages from a registered, licensed practitioner who can assess your needs and deliver the best results.

Boosted Immune System

Research shows that massage can boost your body’s natural ability to fight disease. This is partly due to its pain-relieving effects, which allow the immune system to focus on other tasks. Additionally, massage improves sleep patterns, which is essential for a healthy immune system. Getting adequate sleep helps the immune system repair itself and eliminate toxins that can weaken the body’s resistance to illness.

The immune system is a complex web of cells and tissues that protects us from diseases and infections. It works by targeting antigens, which are foreign substances that can include viruses, bacteria, chemicals and allergens. Antigens trigger the immune system to respond, but can also be detrimental to health if the response is too strong or lasts too long.

Stress is known to weaken the immune system and contribute to illnesses like the flu and the common cold. Regular massage lowers stress levels and flushes out cortisol, which over time can compromise the immune system’s cellular functions and increase susceptibility to disease.

One study showed that the cytotoxic capacity of the immune system increased after receiving a 45 minute massage session. The increase is linked to the activity level of the immune system’s natural killer cells, which are part of the body’s innate defense mechanism. In addition, the study indicated that the lymphatic system, which transports white blood cells throughout the body, was supported by massage.

This is because massage techniques, such as effleurage (long strokes) and petrissage (short, kneading motions), promotes the flow of lymph, which aids in the removal of metabolic waste and toxins. In addition, the frequency of massage sessions was found to affect lymphocyte responses. While once-a-week massage caused decreases in lymphocyte measures, twice-weekly massage resulted in increases for three of the five lymphocyte measures. Moreover, the results demonstrated that therapeutic touch activates the main parts of the immune system, and that specific oils can enhance the activation.

Reduced Inflammation

Massage involves stroking, pressing and kneading different areas of the body to relieve pain, relax, stimulate and tone muscles. It also helps boost the immune system and decrease stress hormones in the blood. Massage may also help reduce inflammation in muscles and joints. For example, a recent study showed that effleurage (sliding movements of the hands over the skin) eases sore muscles after exercise by turning off genes associated with inflammation and turning on those involved in muscle repair.

The same study showed that massage decreases the production of inflammatory cytokines, similar to the effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This is because massage triggers the body’s relaxation response which shifts the nervous system out of its ‘fight or flight’ mode into a calm parasympathetic state.

Studies also show that massage increases IL-10 which is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that promotes a shift from inflammatory macrophages to the M2 macrophage subpopulation that supports tissue healing and regeneration. Inflammation is an integral part of the acute and chronic injury process, however, a disproportionate and uncontrolled inflammatory response can cause damage. This is why a healthy diet and regular massage are so important.

Swelling often occurs after an injury and can be a result of excess fluids, waste products and increased lactic acid build-up. Massage stimulates the lymphatic system, which is responsible for transporting fluids and waste products away from the injured area. By improving the efficiency of the lymphatic system, removing waste products and increasing the transport of fluids, swelling is reduced, healing and recovery are enhanced and muscle strength improves.

While massage is beneficial for many different conditions, it’s important to consult your rheumatologist or primary care physician before receiving any type of touch therapy. Some techniques, such as deep kneading, can involve strong pressure to sensitive tissues and joints and should be avoided by those with arthritic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. The good news is that other types of massage, such as gliding and friction, have been shown to increase healthy circulation in arthritic joints, decrease swelling and improve range of motion and joint function.

Relaxed Mind

Massage does more than improve physical pain and stiffness; it has a direct effect on the brain. It calms the mind, reduces anxiety and improves mood. It increases dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin, while decreasing cortisol levels. This balancing of hormones encourages the relaxation response, which lowers blood pressure, reduces heart rate and eases breathing. It also helps to alleviate mental tension and anxiety and can improve PTSD symptoms. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by life’s responsibilities or a recurring health issue, therapeutic massage can help to relax the body and the mind.

One of the most important aspects of a great massage is deep, controlled breathing. When you start to feel your thoughts begin to wander during your session, bring your attention back to your breath. This will allow you to fully experience the benefits of your massage.

It’s no secret that massage is good for you, but did you know that it can be as soothing to your mind as it is to your body? A professional massage has been known to reduce stress, increase feelings of wellbeing, and boost overall happiness. It is the perfect antidote to our busy lives!

In this episode of Living with Intention, Mel shares how she uses massage to keep her mind healthy and centered.

During a massage, the brain’s neurotransmitters are balanced and you reach a state of complete relaxation. This is because the nervous system receives a signal from the touch receptors to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which slows the heart rate and reduces blood pressure. When the body is in a state of complete relaxation, it decreases the effects of stress and makes you better equipped to deal with the challenges of everyday life.

In addition to reducing the levels of stress hormones, a therapeutic massage can calm premenstrual tension or period cramps by helping with digestion. It does this by encouraging the release of oxytocin and serotonin, which slow down the peristaltic movement of the stomach muscles. When this squeezing action moves too fast, it can lead to an irritated bowel.

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