The effects of massage therapy can be fully felt, but many people do not know what a massage actually can do for them. A massage affects the entire body.
Massaging is the rubbing of various parts of the body to assist circulation and relaxation. The consistent and rhythmic pressure applied to the body through a massage effectively increases the rate of blood flow and the flow of lymph.
The massage increases the rate of blood flow by stimulating nerve receptors and causing blood vessels to dilate. The lymph is a white fluid that carries impurities away from the tissues and moves them through the lymphatic system, effectively filtering the impurities out of the system.
The circulation of lymph is not like the circulation of blood. The lymph is moved through muscles contractions.
People who remain inactive for the most part do not have a healthy lymph flow. However, the lymph flow can be stimulated through activity or massage therapy.
Good circulation of blood and lymph is vital to the healthy function of all parts within the body. After a massage, it has also been discovered that the blood contains an increase in the percentage of oxygen found in the blood.
Of course, the massage can help to loosen contracted or strengthened weak muscles. When the muscles relax and are strengthened, good posture is easier to maintain.
Faster and more accurate movement is also more attainable. Interestingly, massage therapy does not directly strengthen weak muscles.
It does treat fatigue after exercise which aids the body in becoming stronger and conditioned faster. It helps the body to be able to do more exercising, training, or hard work faster.
As muscles are relaxed through a massage, their flexibility is increased. Increased flexibility helps prevent injury through athletic activity.
A body that undergoes a massage also experiences greater secretions and excretions. Studies have shown that the nitrogen, inorganic phosphorous and salt excreted by the body dramatically increased after massage therapy.
The increase in secretions and excretions of the body indicates that the metabolic rate of the body also increases. The higher the metabolic rate the more the body will use what it needs and discards the rest instead of storing it as fat.
Massage can help prevent contraction of disease by stimulating the nervous system. It can also sooth the nervous system if it has been under a lot of strain lightly.
The condition of skin can be greatly improved through a massage. Some people have very tough skin because their sweat gland does not produce enough sebaceous oil to keep the skin soft and healthy.
A massage stimulates these glands and helps them to secrete this oil. This oil lubricates, cleans, and cools the skin.
Massage therapy helps in every bad side effect of exercising. In addition to those mentioned above, a massage can help disperse the lactic and carbonic acids build up related to the strengthening of muscles.
These acids are the by-products that cause muscle soreness and cramping experienced throughout and after exercising. Lactic and carbonic acids are created when the glycogen in the liver is burned to produce enough energy to exercise.
Eventually, these acids are reconverted to glycogen or exit the body through the lymph and circulatory systems. Massage can help to relieve the muscle soreness and pain before this process is complete and helps increase the recovery rate of an athlete.
It is due to this idea, that boxers receive a massage instead of rest in between rounds of activity. Studies have found that a massage can increase recovery from 20-100%.
Massage is an effective way to avoid the pain of getting into shape. It also helps people to become aware of their body and practice healthier habits.
As massage becomes a ritual, the body will dramatically show the effects of it. As people become healthier through massage, they become happier and are more comfortable with themselves.
Author Resource:-
Jack R. Landry has worked at a day spa for the last 9 years and written hundreds of articles about day spas and Orem Utah massage.
Contact Info:
Tom Selwick
tomselwick09@gmail.com
http://www.SolaseYou.com
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