Massage therapy produces a healthy inflammation response. It slightly depresses the immune system for a moment so the body and brain turns on chemicals to nourish the body and recover in areas that need it.
Your body might respond to the muscle manipulation by initiating an inflammatory response, which can cause soreness.
The inflammatory response (inflammation) occurs when tissues are injured by bacteria, trauma, toxins, heat, or any other cause. The damaged cells release chemicals including histamine, bradykinin, and prostaglandins. These chemicals cause blood vessels to leak fluid into the tissues, causing swelling.
When a skilled massage therapist applies pressure to these areas, it can create a sensation of pain that is ultimately therapeutic. This type of pain triggers the body's natural healing response, releasing endorphins and reducing inflammation, which can lead to an overall sense of well-being.
What is usually the first thing that happens during an inflammatory response? Arterioles dilate, letting more blood and fluid escape into the affected tissue.
Massage has the potential to attenuate the inflammatory process, facilitate early recovery, and provide pain relief from muscular injuries. In this hypothesis-driven paper, we integrate the concept of mechanotransduction with the application of massage to explore beneficial mechanisms.
When you massage a knot, it often feels like you are stretching a rope or taffy which is stuck in your muscle tissues. This may be a result of increased blood flow to the site of tension, but it also may be due to the relaxation of the connective tissue that surrounds your muscles (called fascia).
So, what happens to the body after deep tissue massage? Most clients report feeling mild soreness akin to DOMS after deep tissue massage. This usually lasts a few days after which time clients report benefits such as pain relief, improved range of motion, better sleep, and lower blood pressure.
At the tissue level, inflammation is characterized by redness, swelling, heat, pain, and loss of tissue function, which result from local immune, vascular and inflammatory cell responses to infection or injury [5].
Post-massage soreness is a type of muscle pain or discomfort that typically occurs after a massage and can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. It is a normal and natural body response to the physical manipulation of the muscles during a massage session.
You can massage muscle knots every day, but don't over-do it as this could actually cause more irritation. Sometimes muscle knots can go away on their own, but a massage is definitely the fastest and most effective way to loosen the muscle and get rid of muscle knots. Prevention is always better than cure!
Many people think that because massage is a natural therapy that it can't do any harm, but this is a classic example of where it absolutely can. Many therapists believe that by relieving muscle tension with a deep tissue massage, they will release emotions and therefore help to heal trauma.
This myofascial release has a comparable sensation to being rocked by your mother when you were a baby. It causes a pleasant wave sensation to travel throughout the body. It is, in fact, a relaxing experience. That wave infiltrates the restricted areas to allow for softening.
Nervous System Calming
Lassey adds that when you stretch, the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, creating a state of calm within the body. “This change results in a reduction of stress hormones like cortisol and an increase in the production of endorphins, improving mood.”
These trigger points are tight and contracted muscles, almost like hard nodules. They may feel swollen, tense, and/or tender site and block off blood supply. When blood supply is disconnected the surrounding nerve cells become irritated, sending pain signals to the region.
Massage can assist the healing of damaged fibers by increasing blood circulation. Increased blood circulation provides an increase of oxygen and nutrients to an area. An increase of oxygen and nutrients can help repair fibers, decreasing inflammation and pain. Massage can help reduce muscle tightness caused by DOMS.
Massage your chest to aid in lymph drainage from your neck and chest to your lymph nodes under your arms. Continue down toward your ankles. Stroke upward and down through the ankles and feet. Finish the massage by gently pushing the fluid in your toes upward with your fingers.
1. What are the general massage frequency guidelines? It is generally recommended to get a massage once a month to maintain the benefits of relaxation and stress relief. However, some individuals may benefit from more frequent sessions, especially if they have specific health concerns or physical discomfort.
Try making a tea with lemon, ginger, and turmeric; these ingredients are not only tasty but carry plenty of health benefits. For example, turmeric contains curcumin, which helps provide joint pain relief and reduces inflammation. The ginger and lemon can also help aid in digestion.
Inflammation is part of the process by which the immune system defends the body from harmful agents, such as bacteria and viruses. Acute inflammation is triggered by injury, infection, or exposure to substances, and presents itself as pain, redness, swelling, loss of function, and heat.
Caffeine is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about coffee. But coffee also contains antioxidants and other active substances that may reduce internal inflammation and protect against disease, say nutrition experts from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.