The Benefits of Muscle Massage
Muscle massage has many benefits, both for your physical and mental health. It can improve blood circulation, reduce pain, boost cellular energy, reduce muscle tension, increase flexibility, and enhance immunity.
A massage can also break up scar tissue and increase the body’s innate healing ability. It can help you return to your routine quickly and avoid injuries.
Muscle massage is a great way to relieve stress and anxiety. It lowers your heart rate, relaxes muscles, and releases feel-good hormones.
The touch of the massage triggers the release of endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, which increase the sense of well-being. These neurotransmitters are known to relieve anxiety, prevent depression and improve motivation.
In addition, a muscle massage can reduce levels of cortisol that cause stress. When your body is stressed, the sympathetic nervous system releases the stress hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine.
A muscle massage can also help flush out metabolic waste, leading to inflammation and pain. This process increases blood flow to the muscles and helps them to recover faster.
Several studies have shown that massage treatments can significantly reduce anxiety in people suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The treatment also shows promise for individuals diagnosed with depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Massage can help to increase flexibility by stimulating an increase in temperature, increasing tissue elasticity, breaking down adhesions, removing waste products, reducing swelling, and decreasing pain. Flexibility training in a regular exercise routine can reduce injuries and maximize performance.
A recent study examined the effects of static stretching and massage on athletes’ flexibility and jumping performance. The results showed that applying massage immediately following static stretching increased flexibility but did not affect jump performance.
During a massage, the therapist breaks down cross-links of collagen fibers. These fibers lie in a haphazard position over muscle fibers making movement and flexibility difficult.
During the breakdown of these fibers, the therapist can get deeper into the muscle and help to increase its elasticity. This means the muscles can stretch and relax, allowing them to move in their full range of movement.
Massage can reduce pain and inflammation, a common problem for people with chronic conditions. It helps the body function properly by reducing nerve compression and increasing blood flow, allowing it to heal more efficiently.
Muscle massage can increase the production of mitochondria, the organelles in your cells that power cellular metabolism. The more mitochondria you have, the more energy your body has to heal.
Inflammation can be a normal response to injury, but too much inflammation can cause harm to your body by causing further damage to your nerves and tissues.
The goal of muscle massage is to reduce the amount of inflammation in your body so that you can get back to living your best life. It also reduces pain and improves overall health by boosting circulation, reducing stress, and improving sleep quality. It’s a natural way to help your body get back on track after an injury or surgery.
Massage can improve athletic performance by increasing blood flow, reducing stress, and improving muscle recovery. It also helps athletes achieve a sense of calm, improving mental focus and a sense of accomplishment, particularly before race day.
Better circulation — During a massage, blood vessels dilate, and blood pressure decreases. This ramps up blood flow, which allows more oxygen and nutrients to reach muscles.
This can increase endurance, essential for long-distance runners or other endurance-style athletes. It can also speed up recovery after a hard workout or injury.
Muscle massage also has a positive effect on sleep. Research has shown that a regular massage program can increase the hours an athlete sleeps.
Studies have also found that the number of muscles used during exercise increases after a sports massage, which can improve endurance and muscle strength. This may be because the massage helps rebuild and grow mitochondria, the key to turning cellular nutrients into energy.
