The fitness benefits of a therapeutic massage
Busy Bodies
I will never forget the tightness and pain I felt after crossing the finish line of the Boston Marathon last April. I was able to finish in three hours and 30 minutes, but my body took quite a beating over those 26.2 miles. It was pouring rain at the starting line in Hopkinton that morning, and the cold headwind and misty drizzle didn't help my working muscles.
At the finish line I was led right to the convention center. There I was greeted by a beautiful site: An auditorium full of massage therapy students.
You don't have to be a marathon runner to gain from massage therapy. Massage is one of the oldest forms of healing.
Research has shown the many health benefits of massage. Massage increases circulation, which speeds healing and recovery. It decreases inflammation, pain, tension, anxiety and depression. Massage also increases mobility, allowing greater joint flexibility and range of motion.
Studies at the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami even discovered that massage therapy can enhance attentiveness and increase the functioning of our immune system.
One of the most common types is the traditional Swedish massage. The purpose this massage is to energize the body by stimulating circulation. The five basic strokes flow toward the heart and manipulate the soft tissues of the body. A Swedish massage will leave you feeling relaxed, but can also speed healing.
When we exercise, we break down our bodies and create microscopic tears in the muscles. These heal with proper rest and, as the body adapts to the stimulus, we come back faster and stronger. Many athletes, runners, swimmers and cyclists use the same muscles over and over again. Trigger or stress points can form within the muscles or tendons. These bundles of muscle fibers that remain contracted in the muscle are commonly known as knots.
Trigger points cause pain and develop from a trauma, like being hit or falling. They can also develop from repeated stress and strain. Heavily-exercised muscles are prone to trigger points, which can cause the muscle to be sore, decrease in flexibility and even lose their capacity to relax from being chronically tight. This leaves the athlete open to injury.
At the finish line I was led right to the convention center. There I was greeted by a beautiful site: An auditorium full of massage therapy students.
You don't have to be a marathon runner to gain from massage therapy. Massage is one of the oldest forms of healing.
Research has shown the many health benefits of massage. Massage increases circulation, which speeds healing and recovery. It decreases inflammation, pain, tension, anxiety and depression. Massage also increases mobility, allowing greater joint flexibility and range of motion.
Studies at the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami even discovered that massage therapy can enhance attentiveness and increase the functioning of our immune system.
One of the most common types is the traditional Swedish massage. The purpose this massage is to energize the body by stimulating circulation. The five basic strokes flow toward the heart and manipulate the soft tissues of the body. A Swedish massage will leave you feeling relaxed, but can also speed healing.
When we exercise, we break down our bodies and create microscopic tears in the muscles. These heal with proper rest and, as the body adapts to the stimulus, we come back faster and stronger. Many athletes, runners, swimmers and cyclists use the same muscles over and over again. Trigger or stress points can form within the muscles or tendons. These bundles of muscle fibers that remain contracted in the muscle are commonly known as knots.
Trigger points cause pain and develop from a trauma, like being hit or falling. They can also develop from repeated stress and strain. Heavily-exercised muscles are prone to trigger points, which can cause the muscle to be sore, decrease in flexibility and even lose their capacity to relax from being chronically tight. This leaves the athlete open to injury.
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