MASSAGE THERAPY 1

Massage Therapy
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Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is a process that entails conformation and orientation of the tissues

within the body with the purpose of restoring their original configuration. It is composed of

manual strategies which encompasses exertion of movable or fixed pressure, grabbing, and

initiating movements of or towards the body. The main objectives of conducting massage

include: to enhance the circulation of blood and lymph flow, to lower muscular tension, to alter

the nervous system activation or tranquilization, and to accelerate tissue recovery. This paper

will focus on massage therapy as an alternative health choice.

There are certainly different types of massage, including the Swedish massage which is

gentle and aids in relaxation, the deep massage which entails application of considerable pressure

with little strokes, sports massage which is applicable to athletes recovering from or preventing

injuries, trigger point massage which emphasizes on areas that experience tightness, and self

-massage which usually help individuals reduce tension and sustain soreness after engaging in

serious workout. The selection of the appropriate massage for an individual explicitly depends on

whether the massage is meant for controlling stress and relaxation, or is required to cater for

relief and managing a given health condition.

Based on the broad spectrum of health, massage therapy has proven to be fundamental

when it comes to providing remedies to the health of individuals. An appealing example is the

application of massage therapy to curb pains associated with rheumatoid arthritis. A massage

associated with application of mild pressure to victim’s joints and small pressure receptors

beneath their skin has been reported to eliminate arthritis pains. Massage improves blood flow

towards the joints and also fosters blood circulation entirely in the body (Chillemi, 2017). This

enhances flexibility and mobility which is crucial to arthritis patients.

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The therapy associated with massage is connected to boosting immunity through

supplementing an individual’s white blood cell count (Gregory, 2019). White blood cells are

guaranteed the role of defending the body from disease, this means that the defense system is

reinforced. Furthermore, massage up-scales the balance between Th1 and Th2 immune responses

to enhance optimization of immune system activity. Massage achieves this process through

down-scaling the release of stress hormones to help stabilizing the balance. As a result, the body

is able to prevent the occurrence of autoimmune disorders like, Asthma, Dermatitis, and

Pneumonia.

Massage therapy has also proven to be promising in relieving headaches. Consistent

massage assists in relaxation and de-stressing the body (Chillemi, 2017). This strategy lowers the

possibility of migraine occurrence and tensional headaches exponentially by muscle spasm

relaxation and easing of trigger points. Moreover, it also lowers the pressure generated when a

migraine is established or headaches related to tension. Through emphasizing on the shoulders,

neck and head, massage can lower the discomfort and pain generated by a tensional headache or

a migraine.

Another crucial role of massage is to relieve anxiety. The human body is made up of a

system with two diverse nervous systems including the parasympathetic nerves and the

sympathetic nerves (Gregory, 2019). The parasympathetic nerves are equipped with the role of

lowering an individual’s anxiety. Therefore, during a massage, an individual’s response through

parasympathetic nerves is increased which consequently, lowers the levels of anxiety

Next, a diabetic massage has proven to be a remedy for lowering blood sugar levels, the

massage promotes flexibility leading to muscle relaxation. Since high sugar levels in the blood

increases flexibility and mobility in tissues, ligaments, tendons and muscles are relaxed through
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diabetes massage (Human touch, 2020). As a result, patients experience an elevation in

movement and joints flexibility, thus increasing their quality of life. Moreover, diabetes patients

usually encounter inadequate flow of blood through their feet, which can be resolved through

feet massage.

Massage therapy fosters relaxation of nervous system. During a rest, an individual’s

nervous system enters a “digest and rest mode”, and therefore if the individual experiences some

areas of pain in the body, it could be as a result of pressure on the nerves which usually arises as

a result of tight muscles, this can be managed by massage with triggers nervous system

relaxation (Jillson, 2020). A managed nervous system relaxation means that activation of

hormone release is balanced. Therefore, generation of stress hormones decreases while release of

stress free hormones increases.

Massage therapy has proven to be fundamental to cancer patients who wish to alleviate

cancer pain caused by curative diagnosis of cancer. It gives the patients the entitlement to relax

their muscles which consequently, assists in relieving pain and discomfort caused by post-tumor

treatment procedures (Arizona Oncology Foundation, 2020). Furthermore, a condition known as

peripheral neuropathy which is an encounter after undergoing chemotherapy to manage cancer

can be corrected using massage therapy which eliminates the symptoms associated with this

disorder. Some other essential benefits of massage therapy to cancer patients include, relief from

nausea, reduction of stress, alleviation of lymphedema, reduced depression and anxiety,

reduction of fatigue and increased quality of sleep.

Massage therapy has been reported to help reduce fibromyalgia pains. The therapy assists

patients to acquire relief from calf pains, lower the levels of their stress hormones, and raise the

serotonin levels in their systems. A unique form of fibromyalgia massage strategy also helps to
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calm the body for the purposes of getting quality sleep. The moment the body attains

homeostasis after a quality sleep, then the patient can recover energy to confront challenges the

following day.

Massage also provides crucial benefits to the musculoskeletal system, the muscle tissues

are synonymous to sponges since lymph fluids and blood are channeled out when they contract,

and flows back when they relax bringing with them nutrients, immune cells and oxygen (Jillson,

2020). Massage therapists take advantage of this process by conducting stretches and a litany of

motions into their massage. Consequently, they mediate movement of joints and initiates crucial

tension of tendon and ligaments.

In conclusion, massage therapy is an entity that was used since time immemorial. With

this particular ancient history in communities all over the world, it has metamorphosed into, with

most of the time, a supplementary option of contemporary medicine. Even though it has

convenient uses, this form of therapy is acknowledged as a substantial form of medicine

throughout the current ages. People usually think of massage as an alternative form of relaxation,

though it entails a litany of diverse meanings and application of techniques. Generally, it

maneuvers healing entirely to the body as the therapist explores the concept of massage.

References
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Arizona oncology foundation, (2020). How massage therapy helps cancer patients. Retrieved

from https://www.arizonaoncologyfoundation.org/how-massage-therapy-helps-cancer-

patients/ . Accessed on 06/25/2021.

Chillemi, S. (2017). Twelve surprising health benefits of massage therapy. Retrieved from

https://thriveglobal.com/stories/12-surprising-health-benefits-of-massage-therapy/ .

Accessed on 06/24/2021

Gregory, B. (2019). Six healthy ways getting a massage benefits your entire body. Retrieved

from https://www.prevention.com/health/g26305736/massage-therapy-benefits/.

Accessed on 06/26/2021.

Human Touch, (2020).What are the effects of massage for people with diabetes? Retrieved from

https://www.humantouch.com/blog/all-things-considered-what-are-the-effects-of-

massage-for-people-with-diabetes.html . Accessed on 06/25/2021.

Jillson, B. (2020). Eight surprising benefits of a full body massage. Retrieved from

https://www.zeel.com/blog/massage/benefits-of-massage/the-benefits-of-full-body-

massage/. Accessed on 06/25/2021.