What is Massage?

Massage is a "hands-on" therapy in which muscles and other soft tissues of the body are manipulated to improve health and well-being.  Varieties of massage range from gentle stroking and keading of musles and other soft tissues to deeper manual techniques.  Massage has been practiced as a healing therapy for centuries in nearly every culture around the world.  It helps relieve muscle tension, nourish joints, reduce stress, and evoke feelings of contentment.  Although massage affects the body as a whole, it particularly influences the activity of the musculoskeletal, circulatory, lymphatic and nervous systems. 

How does Massage Work?

When a practitioner massages soft tissue, electrical signals are transmitted both to the local area and throughout the body.  These signals help heal damaged muscle, stimulate circulation, clear waste and induce a calming effect.  Massage may also enhance a general sense of well-being by stimulating the release of endorphins (natural painkillers and mood elevators) and reduce levels of certain stress hormones.

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Are there Risks associated with Massage?

In general, massage is considered relatively safe.  Pain or other rare negative side effects are generally caused by an extremely vigorous massage technique.

Women should be very cautious about receiving massages during pregnancy. 

Even though massage is a useful technique to help regulate blood sugar over time, if you have diabetes you should check your blood sugar after a massage session because it may be too low following a treatment.  If you have diabetes and you are receiving massage on a regular basis, you should check your blood sugar frequently to evaluate any changes over time.

Massage should be avoided by people with heart failure, kidney failure, infection of the superficial veins (phlebitis) or soft tissue (called cellulitis) in the legs or elsewhere, blood clots in the legs, bleeding disorders, and contagious skin conditions.  If you have cancer, check with your doctor if you're considering massage; massage can damage tissue that is fragile from chemotherapy or radiation treatments.  People with rheumatoid arthritis, goiter (a thyroid disorder characterized by an enlarged thyroid), eczema, and other skin lesions should not receive Massage Therapy during flare-ups.  Experts also advise that people with osteoporosis, high fever, few platelets or white blood cells, and mental impairment, as well as those recovering from surgery, should avoid massage.