How Massage Helps Heal Sore Muscles
After a vigorous workout massage unquestionably feels good. It also seems to reduce pain and help muscle to recover. Athletes and health professionals have long contended massage eases inflammation, improves blood flow and reduces muscle tightness. Until now no one has understood why massage has this beneficial effect on the body.
Now researchers have found what happens to muscles when a massage therapist goes to work. The experiment required having people exercise to exhaustion and undergo five incisions in there legs in order to obtain muscle tissue for analysis. Despite the hurdles, the scientists managed to find 11 brave young male volunteers. The study was published in the Feb.1 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
The New York Times, New York, New York Feb.5 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
Your Body on a Massage
Heart:
During a back, neck or chest massage, your heart rate can slow by more than 10 beats per minute. Your blood pressure drops by as much as 8 percent. This in turn relaxes your entire body, melts away stress and gives you time to just breathe.
During a back, neck or chest massage, your heart rate can slow by more than 10 beats per minute. Your blood pressure drops by as much as 8 percent. This in turn relaxes your entire body, melts away stress and gives you time to just breathe.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Review of Massage for Pregnant Women Shows Benefits
"A review of research on massage therapy for pregnant women showed:
*Less pain during labor was reported from massage compared with usual care during the first stage of labor.
*Labor pain was reduced with massage compared with music.
*One trial of massage compared with usual care found reduced anxiety during the first stage of labor "Massage may have a role in reducing pain, and improving women's emotional experience of labor", the investigators wrote, "however, there is a need for further research.""
Source: Centre for Complementary Medicine Research, University of Western Sydney, Australia.
*Less pain during labor was reported from massage compared with usual care during the first stage of labor.
*Labor pain was reduced with massage compared with music.
*One trial of massage compared with usual care found reduced anxiety during the first stage of labor "Massage may have a role in reducing pain, and improving women's emotional experience of labor", the investigators wrote, "however, there is a need for further research.""
Source: Centre for Complementary Medicine Research, University of Western Sydney, Australia.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Massage After a Workout.
A post-exercise Swedish Massage is more than just an indulgence. Research shows that massage boosts strength recovery by 60%. Massage reduces inflammation in the tissue and increases blood flow to the area, which is what speeds up recovery. Let your muscles cool down completely for a couple of hours after exercise before having a light massage. You don't even need a massage therapist, doing it yourself massage provides the same benefits. Set aside 10-15 minutes before bed on days when you exercise intensely. Use long, smooth stokes with firm but gentle pressure, over the muscles worked and use a foam roller or massage balls on hard to reach places. If you find a knot, move slowly from the outside in, keeping the pressure light, you don't want to aggrivate an already inflamed area. For acute soreness, apply a cold compress or ice pack for about 20 minutes to decrease inflammation.
5-1-12
A post-exercise Swedish Massage is more than just an indulgence. Research shows that massage boosts strength recovery by 60%. Massage reduces inflammation in the tissue and increases blood flow to the area, which is what speeds up recovery. Let your muscles cool down completely for a couple of hours after exercise before having a light massage. You don't even need a massage therapist, doing it yourself massage provides the same benefits. Set aside 10-15 minutes before bed on days when you exercise intensely. Use long, smooth stokes with firm but gentle pressure, over the muscles worked and use a foam roller or massage balls on hard to reach places. If you find a knot, move slowly from the outside in, keeping the pressure light, you don't want to aggrivate an already inflamed area. For acute soreness, apply a cold compress or ice pack for about 20 minutes to decrease inflammation.
5-1-12
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