Is Therapeutic Massage safe for everyone?

Posted by Vicky Mamoria on June 26th, 2019

They are considered luxurious and prestigious, but did you know that they have some proven health benefits? How does massage affect pain, and are there any who should be careful? Here are all the answers

If you are offered a Therapeutic Massage at this moment, chances are that you will agree immediately, as Therapeutic Massage is considered a luxurious activity that we allow ourselves at special occasions. But not everyone treats only pampering and some people massage are intended to address a health problem, chronic or temporary. 

There is a number of evidence of the health benefits of massage, and they are aimed primarily at athletes. For example, they include relieving muscle aches after intense activity and reducing stress, as well as many medical literature evidences that massage has good physiological and psychological effects.

So can any of us do Therapeutic Massage regularly or are there some that might be dangerous for them? Australian research has found, for example, that a 10-minute massage after exercise can reduce pain by about 30 percent. In addition, a review article on massages found that levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, decreased by an average of 30 percent after a Therapeutic Massage while the secretion of hormones related

A feeling as good as dopamine and serotonin increased by about 30 percent.

Studies examining the effect of fMRI (a test that tests real-time brain regions) have shown that massage increases blood flow in areas of the brain related to mood and regulation of stress states. Other studies have identified a similar effect to that of meditation and relief of depression. And maybe you will not believe it but one study even found that self-massage gives the same effect as someone else, especially in reducing muscle pain

This phenomenon is called gate theory.
The theory holds that the brain is unable to absorb painful stimuli when many contact receptors are activated. An example of this is the rubbing or caressing of an injured organ, a condition that eases the pain sensation by competing between fibers of soft contact with those of pain. This causes a delay in the areas of pain in the brain. On the other hand, it is important to note that in the review articles only weak evidence was found for the obvious advantages of pain reduction massage.

One of the main difficulties in fully refining the beneficial effects of massage and proving it in a scientific experiment is the difficulty of neutralizing the placebo effect caused by the touch and the pleasant sensation. In addition, most studies examined the effect of one massage per week. There are not enough comprehensive studies to examine the effect of massage at different frequencies and at different intervals.

Women who suffer from deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition that causes blood clots to develop into the deep veins of the body, are particularly at risk. Massage of the lower extremities may increase the risk that a blood clot will be released and carried into the lungs.

In addition, several infectious skin diseases may be transmitted between the therapist and the patient during massage, especially if the therapist is not aware of them. Diseases include, among others, infection with viruses such as herpes and fungus of the skin or infection from one place in the body after.

When it comes to deep tissue Therapeutic Massage, the therapist is required to apply pressure, which in the hands of the non-skilled may damage the muscles or even cause nerve damage if done incorrectly.

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Vicky Mamoria

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Vicky Mamoria
Joined: November 14th, 2017
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