The Benefits of Massage Therapy

 Massage therapy has many physiological effects, including:

• Increased circulation, allowing the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs.

• Stimulation of the lymph system, helping the body to release stored toxins, acting as a natural defence.

• The releasing of endorphins, the body’s natural painkiller

• Improved range of motion and decreased low back pain and discomfort

• Relief of pain for arthritis, tendonitis, and migraine sufferers

• Improvement of digestion

• Potential improvement of digestive disorders

• Reduced spasms and cramping

• Increased joint flexibility

• Reduction and realignment of scar tissue after healing has occurred

• After massage, EEG patterns indicate enhanced performance and alertness on mathematical computations, with the effects being mediated by decreased stress hormones.

• Relaxing and softening of injured and overused muscles

• Massage also stimulates the immune system by increasing peripheral blood lymphocytes

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Trigger point therapy

Sometimes confused with pressure point massage, this involves deactivating trigger points that may cause local pain or refer pain and other sensations, such as headaches, in other parts of the body. Manual pressure, vibration, injection, or other treatment is applied to these points to relieve myofascial pain. Trigger points were first discovered and mapped by Janet G. Travell (president Kennedy's physician) and David Simons. Trigger points have been photomicrographed and measured electrically, and in 2007 a paper was presented showing images of Trigger Points using MRI. These points relate to dysfunction in the myoneural junction, also called neuromuscular junction (NMJ), in muscle, and therefore this modality is different from reflexology, acupressure and pressure point massage.