Quora: Is it Healthy to Get Massages Regularly?

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By Kate Simmons, Myofascial Pain Specialist

There are many physiological benefits from massage, but I will list the main effects on the body:

1. Muscular system:
When you reflect that the muscles constitute one half of the bulk of the body and receive one fourth of all the blood supply of the body, you realize that any procedure which acts directly on them must have a decided influence on the whole body.

When properly administered, massage produces a suction or pumping effect, pressing forward the contents of the veinous and lymph channels, creating a vacuum to be filled by a fresh supply of fluid derived from the capillaries. Plainly speaking, massage (specifically flushing techniques such as friction and manual lymphatic drainage) refreshes the supply of oxygenated blood to the tissues it acts upon, clearing painful chemicals such as bradykinin, histamine and substance P, lactic acid, eicosanoids, nitric oxide, adenosine, cytokines, and others [1]. This, simply put, removes the source(s) of pain and increases comfort and proper function (including strength and endurance) through relaxation of the muscular fibers and better circulation within them.

2. Skeletal and ligamentous:
Massage can influence harder structures such as bones and ligaments (the connective tissue structures attaching bone to bone). Bones have essentially the same blood supply as their overlying muscles.The blood vessels's and lymphatics's flows are largest (peripherally) in the vicinity of the joints. The change of fluids affected by joint movements resulting from the action of the muscles upon the bones necessarily produces an increase in the nutrition to these areas, which then assists increased growth in the ligaments and other structures of the joints [2].

3. Circulatory:
General massage increases the rate and force of the heart beat, as does exercise, with the difference that it does not raise arterial tension or stimulate the neuromuscular junction as does active exercise, and it does not accelerate the heart to the same degree, though it produces a full strong pulse. This is due in part to the influence of massage mainly affecting peripheral circulation. Friction (rubbing techniques) acts mainly on superficial veins, while deep kneading (deep tissue and rolfing techniques, etc.) act on deeper vessels also. The effects of massage are marked in lymphatic vessels as well. Lymph vessels drain the tissues of waste and toxic substances. They are most abundant in subcutaneous tissue and in the fascia that coat and lie in between muscles. These vessels are mechanically affected (flushed) with friction and kneading techniques [3].

4. Respiratory:
Massage, as in exercise, increases the depth of the respiratory movements. This is in some measure due to the parasympathetic reflexive influence of massage, but it is also be attributed in part to its effect in bringing the circulation waste products requiring elimination through the lungs, and increasing oxidation, or CO2 production, which necessarily accompanies the increased heat production resulting from the effect of massage on the muscles (from friction and increased muscluar metabolism). Massage is an efficient means of positively affecting tissue metabolism, by which oxygen is absorbed by the tissues and CO2 taken up by the veinous blood. This process takes place chiefly in the muscles through oxidation of glycogen, of which they contain one-half of the bodily store [4].

There are also psychological benefits to getting a massage, mainly relaxation and peaceful frame of mind. Some of this can be attributed to the aforementioned benefits. There is also the simple act of releasing tension and allowing the body and mind to "let go," relax, and breathe.

There are many specific applications of manual therapy to achieve certain physiological goals, such as manual lymphatic drainage to affect local swelling versus deep tissue massage, Active Release, Thai massage or Rolfing to break up fascial/tendinous adhesions, versus trigger point therapy or myofascial release to address specific types of tension within specific muscles or myotatic groups.? Each technique has its functional directives.? Many different disciplines of medicine utilize massage/manual therapeutic techniques to achieve certain goals. These get more specific with advanced techniques.

There are several contraindications to massage (states in which massage is inadviseable and possibly harmful):

1. Significant fever: the body is already under siege from infection or inflammation; massage is only going to increase the problem, not help.

2. Uncontrolled infection: again, the body is already overloaded trying to attack the invading/inflaming organism. Massage will only add an additional overload and complication, most likely making symptoms worse. Wait until the infection is identified and eradicated before having a massage.

3. Recent severe injury or surgery: there are advanced techniques such as manual lymphatic drainage and craniosacral therapy that can help control initial swelling and inflammation, but general massage would overload the body's capacity to respond favorably in such a compromised state.

Resources:
[1] "Essentials of Pain Medicine, 3d Edition"; Elsevier, 2011; Benzon, Raja, Liu, Fishman, Cohen; 2:2, pgs. 8, 9.
[2-4] "Art of Massage", Health Research, 1975; Kellogg, MD, pgs. 23-31.

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