Massage Treatment - Help and Advice Blog

Rest and relaxation are important considerations for all those involved in our life and fitness training. Rest allows the tissues to recover and the body system to return to a balanced state. It is important that homeostasis is restored, otherwise the body will become progressively over stressed and will fail to function efficiently.

Massage(Indian head, Sport, Deep tissue massage) is a form of touch therapy that involves manipulation (physical movement) of the soft tissues of the body, such as the skin, tendons, ligaments and muscles. Although one is inclined to think that the bones in the body are not affected by massage, this is untrue. A tense muscle can place a bone or joint under pressure as it is pulled by the muscle. Ligaments that join the muscle to the bone are tighter than they should be and very little circulation can get to the bony structures because the capillaries and veins are contracted, much like a hose pipe when it is squeezed. The body needs all the oxygen it can get, and this is carried in the bloodstream through the veins, arteries and capillaries. When a stimulating massage takes place, the transportation of the necessary fluids is improved, either by removing toxins or by bringing fresh oxygenated blood to the body that is being manipulated. Conversely, a gentle massage brings about relaxation and helps to reduce excessive emotional and physical stress, factors that are known to aggravate or increase the symptoms of pain.