Massage therapy is a great way to relieve muscle pain and tension. It helps to release pressure points where tension builds up and causes knots, and it also helps the body break down waste products that build up in muscle tissue. Massage is known to promote relaxation by releasing happiness hormones, including serotonin, dopamine and endorphins. It also helps to reduce stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline.
Research studies have found that massage activates cellular activity and responds to the complex cellular level of cytokines, proteins and mitochondria. It can also help to reduce muscle inflammation and increase mitochondrial production, which is a sign of tissue recovery. The massage helps to release endorphins, which can serve as a mood boost for the whole body. The longer you massage sore muscles, the more endorphins will be released. You may be wondering how and why it feels so good to press on sore muscles.
It looks a lot like an inflammatory increase in inflamed muscle. The effects of tactical massage treatments, whether they are composite processes or changes at the cellular level, act to decrease, reduce, increase and induce cell growth to improve cellular defenses, act in unison or correct imbalances; without a doubt, the body feels good after a massage. A study conducted by the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation reported an improvement in muscle function after a massage. Massage manipulation decreased the metabolic activity of cytokines and proteins throughout the body to effectively reduce muscle pain and suppress swelling; and massage manipulation was found to play a role in creating mitochondria at the cellular metabolic level. Tarnopolsky, professor of pediatrics and medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, said that massage works very differently from NSAIDs and other anti-inflammatory drugs, which reduce inflammation and pain, but can actually delay healing. I like my massage with medium pressure and long gliding movements mixed with a little kneading here and there.
Be sure to tell your therapist what you expect to get from your massage and be sure to help them regulate the pressure. Having the right place for your massage session can make a big difference in the way you feel afterward. Nowadays, however, experts recommend massage therapy every few weeks or once a month as a good treatment for muscle pain. Massaging sore muscles and using products such as massage guns and foot massagers can help restore balance to the body, relieve pain, and even prevent future muscle tension.
