Massage
Massage therapy is a hands-on manipulation of the soft tissue and joints of the body. The soft tissues include muscle, skin, tendons and associated fascia, ligaments and joint capsules.
Massage has many diverse physiological effects, which are primarily due to the therapist’s hands moving over the body. The different movements can physically stretch muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia, encourage the circulation through the tissue, inhibit muscular spasms and be either sedating or stimulating to the nervous system.
The therapeutic use of massage by a registered massage therapist affects all the systems of the body – in particular, the muscular, circulatory, lymphatic (immune) and nervous systems.
Many of today’s health problems can benefit from massage therapy because the manipulation of soft tissues affects so many of our bodily systems.
The benefits of massage are extensive. Massage therapy treatments will have a therapeutic effect and improve health by acting directly on the muscular, nervous, circulatory and lymphatic (immune) systems.
Massage treatments aim to:
- Develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function. Relieve or prevent physical dysfunction and pain.
- Relax tight and tense muscles.
- Improve circulation, recovery time and immune system function.
- Reduce overall stress.
- Massage therapy is also effective in the control of pain chronic or acute, in stress reduction, and in creating a sense of relaxation and well-being.
