How Massage Works

Some of the mechanisms explaining how massage works:

• decreases tension and relieves pain in the back and neck by relaxing muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints and "closing the pain gate".
• suppresses inflamation and enhances cell recovery by reducing production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and stimulating mitochondria.
• increases blood flow in areas of the brain associated with mood and stress regulation.
• helps to switch off your "fight or flight" response.
• bombards the skin and subcutaneous tissues with stimuli providing soothing or stimulating effects locally and on the whole body depending on the used technique.
• stimulates pressure receptors under the skin increasing vagal activity leading to cortisol level and other stress related symptoms drop which has calming effect on the whole body.
• increases serotonin and dopamine levels (happiness, pleasure, reward and motivation chemicals) as well as decreasing levels of cortisol and adrenaline (stress hormones) reducing stress, helping with depression and anxiety.
• in those with depression, massage may serve as an adjunct to medication ad psychotherapy through therapeutic value of touch, pain management properties and improvements in self-esteem.
• releases endorphins (natural pain killing opiates) and oxytocin (trust and social bonding hormone) improving sense of well-being, increasing relaxation both mental, emotional and physical.
• facilitates deep sleep through delta waves and increases activation of growth hormone promoting cell division, tissue repair, regeneration and healing.
• while it can take weeks or even months to completely recover from a flare-up of pain or injury, in the meantime in addition to conventional care massage offers relief and helps the body to heal itself.

Massage Therapy
can help with: