
Massage therapy is a physical manipulation that relaxes muscle tissue, reducing painful contractions and spasms. It can also reduce nerve compression and improve blood and lymph circulation, which in turn enhances the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to muscle cells. Massage can also help to break down thickened, pain-producing scar tissue.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Physical manipulation | Relaxation and normalization of soft tissue |
| Relaxation response | Chemicals are released |
| Improved circulation | Enhanced delivery of oxygen and nutrients to muscle cells |
| Muscle temperature | Increased by rubbing |
| Muscle compliance | Increased |
| Joint motion | Increased range |
| Stiffness | Decreased |
| Nerve compression | Reduced |
| Painful contractions and spasms | Reduced |
| Trigger points | Relieved |
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What You'll Learn

Massage relaxes muscle tissue, reducing painful contractions and spasms
Massage can provide several benefits to the body, such as increased blood flow, reduced muscle tension and neurological excitability, and an increased sense of well-being. Massage can produce mechanical pressure, which is expected to increase muscle compliance, resulting in an increased range of joint motion, decreased passive stiffness and decreased active stiffness. Mechanical pressure might help to increase blood flow by increasing the arteriolar pressure, as well as increasing muscle temperature from rubbing. Depending on the massage technique, mechanical pressure on the muscle is expected to increase or decrease neural excitability as measured by the Hoffman reflex.
Trigger point therapy involves the application of pressure to tender muscle tissue in order to relieve pain and dysfunction in other parts of the body. Transverse frictions are a transverse connective tissue therapy applied directly by the fingers. Oscillating pressure is applied across the direction of the tissue fibres. This technique is mainly used on tendon or ligament injuries to help break down thickened, pain-producing scar tissue.
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Massage can reduce nerve compression
Trigger point therapy involves applying pressure to tender muscle tissue to relieve pain and dysfunction in other parts of the body. Trigger points are active centres of muscular hyperactivity, which often cross over with acupuncture points.
Massage can also produce mechanical pressure, which is expected to increase muscle compliance, resulting in an increased range of joint motion, decreased passive stiffness and decreased active stiffness. This mechanical pressure might help to increase blood flow by increasing the arteriolar pressure, as well as increasing muscle temperature from rubbing.
Massage is believed to improve blood and lymph circulation, which enhances the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to muscle cells. As cellular health improves, tissues function more efficiently, leading to the removal of waste products and a reduction in swelling in soft tissues.
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Massage increases blood flow
The physical manipulation of soft tissue and the chemicals released as part of the relaxation response are believed to improve blood and lymph circulation. Massage can produce mechanical pressure, which increases muscle compliance, resulting in an increased range of joint motion and decreased stiffness. This mechanical pressure might help to increase blood flow by increasing arteriolar pressure and muscle temperature from rubbing.
Massage therapy relaxes muscle tissue, which reduces painful contractions and spasms. Touching the skin or applying pressure relaxes muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and the release of more superficial layers of muscles may also affect deeper layers. This can lead to both superficial and deep tissues finding a better alignment and balance.
Trigger point therapy involves applying pressure to tender muscle tissue to relieve pain and dysfunction in other parts of the body. Transverse frictions are a transverse connective tissue therapy applied directly by the fingers, mainly used on tendon or ligament injuries to help break down thickened, pain-producing scar tissue.
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Massage can reduce muscle tension
The physical manipulation of soft tissue can lead to the removal of waste products and a reduction in swelling in soft tissues. Massage can also increase blood flow, which may help to reduce muscle tension and neurological excitability. This can lead to an increased range of joint motion and decreased stiffness.
Trigger point therapy involves applying pressure to tender muscle tissue to relieve pain and dysfunction in other parts of the body. Transverse frictions are a transverse connective tissue therapy applied directly by the fingers. Oscillating pressure is applied across the direction of the tissue fibres to help break down thickened, pain-producing scar tissue.
Massage can also affect the deeper layers of the body, such as deep spinal musculature, by releasing the more superficial layers of muscles. This can lead to better alignment and balance in both superficial and deep tissues.
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Massage can help to break down thickened, pain-producing scar tissue
Massage can also increase blood flow and reduce muscle tension. This is achieved through mechanical pressure, which increases muscle compliance, resulting in an increased range of joint motion. It can also decrease passive stiffness and active stiffness.
Transverse frictions are a transverse connective tissue therapy applied directly by the fingers. Oscillating pressure is applied across the direction of the tissue fibres. This technique is mainly used on tendon or ligament injuries to help break down thickened, pain-producing scar tissue.
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Frequently asked questions
Massage therapy relaxes muscle tissue, which reduces painful contractions and spasms. Massage can also reduce nerve compression.
Touching the skin or applying pressure relaxes muscles, tendons and ligaments. Massage can also help to release the more superficial layers of muscles, which may then have a knock-on effect on deeper layers.
Massage is believed to improve blood and lymph circulation, which enhances the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to muscle cells. As cellular health improves, tissues function more efficiently and waste products are removed.
Trigger point therapy involves applying pressure to tender muscle tissue in order to relieve pain and dysfunction in other parts of the body. Trigger points are active centres of muscular hyperactivity, which often cross-over with acupuncture points.
Massage produces mechanical pressure, which is expected to increase muscle compliance, resulting in an increased range of joint motion. This mechanical pressure might help to increase blood flow by increasing the arteriolar pressure, as well as increasing muscle temperature from rubbing.











































