The Many benefits of Massage Therapy

Sans Souci Holistic excels in customized massage sessions Reflexology, Trigger Point Therapy, Prenatal and Potion massage, our own creation.

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The Benefits of Massage

Touch Research Institute, researchers have found that massage is helpful in decreasing blood pressure in people with hypertension, alleviating pain in migraine sufferers and improving alertness and performance in office workers.

An increasing number of research studies show massage reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure, increases blood circulation and lymph flow, relaxes muscles, improves range of motion, and increases endorphins (which may enhance medical treatment). Although therapeutic massage does not increase muscle strength, it can stimulate weak, inactive muscles and, thus, partially compensate for the lack of exercise and inactivity resulting from illness or injury. It also can hasten and lead to a more complete recovery from exercise or injury.

Research has verified that:

Physical Benefits of Therapeutic Massage

What Types of Dysfunctions Respond To Clinical Massage?

Massage and Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction

Pain and/or physiological dysfunction originates from identifiable points within muscles and their fascial tissues. These locations are known as trigger points because they often trigger distant reactions.

Scientists have developed extensive maps of such referred pain. They have also identified nearly a hundred dysfunctions that can have myofascial trigger point origins. Some of these are: carpal tunnel syndrome, TMJ dysfunction, PMS, headache, diarrhea, dizziness, cardiac arrhythmia, indigestion, tennis elbow, urinary frequency, sinusitis, deafness, and blurred vision.

Massage and Fascial Plane Dysfunction

Fascia can be compared to the body's own version of "Saran Wrap." It covers most of the body in large, continuously connected sheets. Injury, postural patterns and chemical imbalances can cause these sheets to distort and bind to themselves and nearby tissues. Since all major blood vessels and nerves follow these fascial sheathes through the body, properly aligned and released fascia is vital to good health and the proper operation of the circulatory and nervous systems.

Massage and Neuromuscular Dysfunction

The smallest muscular activity requires that countless nerve impulses be sent to the muscle to be activated and to all of the adjoining and opposing muscles. For example, let us say that you want to flex your elbow. This requires that you must tighten the biceps and other associated muscles while simultaneously relaxing the triceps and other associated muscles. The combined nervous activity and muscular response must be precisely timed and exactly proportionate.

For more complex movements like rotating the head or taking a breath, the amount of coordinating activity increases exponentially. Unfortunately, the mechanism responsible for such coordination can break down and muscle fibers or whole muscles can actually lock in opposition to their normal activity.

Massage and Tonus System Dysfunction

When overused, muscles can lose their ability to understand how to relax. This is referred to as hypertonic. As a result, the muscles become overly tight. They tend to harbor myofascial trigger points, and cause stress on the muscles that oppose them and the joints that they cross.

Massage and Dermatomic and Spondylogenic Dysfunctions

If a nerve is pinched where it leaves the spine, or anywhere along its route, the area that nerve serves will feel pain. Many people have experienced such a problem with the sciatic nerve. It originates in the low back, but when pinched can make the knee, shin, or heel hurt. This is an example of dermatomic pain - literally translated - pain in an area of skin.

Massage and Spondylogenic Dysfunction

This occurs when the joints of the spine are compressed or otherwise impaired and cause their own special trigger point-type pain or dysfunction.

Massage is a very effective technique for controlling pain.

How does it work?  There are number of ways massage may help in controlling pain.Massage confuses the body's pain signals. 

Rubbing may interfere with pain signals' pathways to your brain, a process called the "gate control theory," according to experts. Pain impulses run toward the spinal cord and then up the cord and into the brain. It's only when they reach the brain that these impulses, are perceived as pain. When you rub, it sends other impulses along the same nerves. When all these impulses try to reach the brain through nerves, the nerves get clogged like a highway during morning rush hour. The result? Most of them won't reach the brain. And if the pain signals does not reach the brain, you won't feel pain. Thus massage works by 'closing the gate' that pain impulses have to pass through.

Massage also calls up the body's natural painkillers. 

It stimulates the release of endorphins, the morphine-like substances that the body manufactures, into the brain and nervous system.

Massage provides deep relaxation 

It relieves muscle tension, spasm, and stiffness. All of these contribute to pain. Experts suggest that tense muscles are usually deprived of oxygen, because the tightness reduces blood circulation to the area. Massage improves blood circulation, bringing with it what the muscle needs-oxygen and other forms of nourishment. The muscle then relaxes, and pain decreases.

Massage relieves mental stress and anxiety.

Pre-menstrual Syndrome (PMS)

How Massage Therapy Helps Relieve Symptoms

   Pre Menstrual Syndrome (PMS), (it should be called Premenstrual Distress Syndrome), is probably one of the most discomforting and frustrating dis-ease condition, that affects millions of women and girls, between age 18 and menopause.

“PMS is the subject of much discussion and controversy since its description 60 years ago… the discussion has ranged from whether it really exists as a disease entity, whether it is treatable… The controversy has ranged from a consideration of whether it is primarily a physical disorder to whether it is a mental disorder.”1 

This is reminiscent of the debate on Fibromyalgia, another female oriented health condition. Is she really in pain or is it her fanciful imagination?

Just about every massage therapist’ proclaims that massage therapy can naturally, alleviate the pain and distress of PMS and spare women the sometimes-debilitating symptoms of this unwelcome, Monthly visitor.

I became curious about the subject and thought that I want to find out what, if anything, the literature says about Massage therapy and its effects on PMS symptoms. The following is a summary of some published and anecdotal information that I have found, some of it is from my own treatment records.

Definition

The US Department of Health and Human Services defines PMS on its Website:

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a group of symptoms linked to the menstrual cycle. PMS symptoms occur in the week or two weeks before your period (menstruation or monthly bleeding). The symptoms usually go away after your period starts. PMS can affect menstruating women of any age. It is also different for each woman. PMS may be just a monthly bother or it may be so severe that it makes it hard to even get through the day. Monthly periods stop during menopause, bringing an end to PMS.2

What causes PMS?

Hormonal dysfunction is found to be the cause of many menstrual complaints, the most prominent being premenstrual syndrome. 5  “The causes of PMS are not clear, it is linked to changing hormones during the menstrual cycle. (However) Some women may be affected more than others by changing hormone levels during the menstrual cycle. (Though) Stress and emotional problems do not seem to cause PMS… they may make it worse. Research seems to suggest that lifestyle factors such as Caffeine, alcohol and nicotine intake make symptoms even worse. 6

 A clinical diagnosis of PMS is based on symptoms, when they occur, and how much they affect your life.

What are the symptoms of PMS?

 According to medical and other health care professionals, PMS often includes both physical and emotional symptoms.  I think that citing some of the most common symptoms will help women to track their own experiences, to see if they qualify for the ‘clinical’ diagnosis.  Women in many parts the world knew that, just prior to their ‘period’, they suffered from distressful phenomena that affected all aspects of their being.  Did they really need a ‘Clinical diagnosis’ to endorse and so justify these experiences of pain and general disintegration?  It seems like the male dominated medical profession, including the Gynecological aspects, mind you, needed to fit women’s symptoms into some kind of formal model, before they could treat. The model that eventually ‘evolved’ recognize the following symptoms of PMS:

    * acne

    * breast swelling and tenderness

    * feeling tired and exhausted

    * having trouble sleeping

    * upset stomach, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea

    * headache or backache

    * appetite changes or food cravings

    * joint or muscle pain

    * trouble concentrating or remembering

    * tension, irritability, mood swings, or crying spells

It is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)” that caught the attention of the Touch Research Institute, (TRI) in Miami Fl., and they decided to focus on that condition for a massage study.  The organizers used the official diagnostic definition of PMDD, and conducted a “double blind” study.  A brief summary of the report is included below.

“To meet the criteria for PMDD as laid out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) the patient is required to have at least five recurring symptoms, of which four are affective (emotional), along with significant interference in social or occupational functions”.12

Women suffering from symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), such as irritability, headaches, anxiety and weight gain, felt relief from regular massage sessions, according to results from a recent research study.

The study, "Premenstrual symptoms are relieved by massage therapy," was conducted by the Touch Research Institute in conjunction with the University of Miami Medical School.

Twenty-four women, aged 19 to 45, with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (a severe form of PMS) were selected from gynecological practices. The women were randomly assigned to a massage therapy group or a relaxation group. Those in the massage therapy group received twice-weekly, 30-minute massage sessions for five weeks. The sessions started during a premenstrual week to establish a baseline measure.

Sessions began with the woman supine, and included 15 minutes of: kneading the neck; stroking the forehead; pressing down on the tops of the shoulders; stroking on the hands, arms and shoulders; circular stroking on the stomach; stroking of the feet and legs; and kneading of the thighs. The remaining fifteen minutes of the session, the woman was prone while the therapist stretched her ankles; compressed her calf muscles; kneaded her thigh muscles; gave gliding strokes to her legs; and massaged her low back, shoulders and neck.

The relaxation group was given progressive muscle relaxation therapy. For 30 minutes twice a week, participants were instructed to tense and relax major muscle groups, starting with the feet and moving up.

At the end of the study, results indicated that the massage therapy group experienced a decrease in anxiety, a decrease in depression… a reduction in perceived pain…, and an overall reduction in PMS symptoms including pain and water retention…

Researchers wrote that future studies might focus on the effects of a longer-term massage therapy program.

Moreover, there are numerous anecdotal accounts by female recipients of Massage Therapy, like the one quoted below. For the privacy of the client, only her first name is used.

Jasmine is a 28 year old, White Female. She lives a relatively comfortable life; is healthy, and physically and sexually active. However, she suffered from what she called, “ …killer cramps, bloating and anxiety, before my period.” She contacted me, after reading a magazine article which suggested that massage before the onset of the ‘period’ may help relieve the pains.  Jacqui had two treatments about seven days before her period was due. The symptoms still attended, but she reported that “…they were less intense than before, I will try it again, it might help”.

On advise (for best results), from the Massage Therapist at Integrated Bodytherapy Inst., the client had four, 45 minutes Aromatherapy massage treatments during the three weeks preceding menstruation. That month, she reported having “…much less intense cramps and anxiety, and much less bloating”. Several years later, Jacqui is still a client and is “90 percent healed” of PMS symptoms.14

There are more than a dozen other such success stories, in the records of Integrated Bodytherapy.

In Europe, the main and most effective means of using essential oils (Aromatherapy Oils) in therapy, is by MASSAGE application, and this is especially true for systemic conditions such as PMS and PMDD. Though there are other ways such as baths, environmental diffusion, compresses and oral ingestion, massage is by far the most effective method of applying these powerful plant essences.

In her well researched, beautifully illustrated hand book of Aromatherapy, Julia Lawless noted that “Therapeutic aromatic massage is the main method used by professional Aromatherapists,..” “…massage is very beneficial, especially for emotional problems and stress related conditions, because it combines scent with relaxation, as well as …absorption of the essential oils through the skin.”15

  And, Massage Therapy is not the only touch therapy that may impact on PMS/PMDD.  Reflexologists  have long ago asserted that work on reflexes in the feet and hands may help to relieve symptoms of PMS, and even get rid of it completely.  Work on the “…Uterus, Ovaries, Fallopian tubes, Lower Spine, all Glands, and Diaphragm.”16

According to Reflexologist and author, Mildred Carter, “You can prevent PMS and the discomforts of menopause with the healing energy of reflexology,… Give yourself a complete reflex workout at least twice a week, beginning two weeks before your menstrual cycle begins. This is when hormonal changes start to take place within your body.  Remember the importance of your endocrine glands when you are massaging your reflexes. These glands strengthen and regulate body rhythms, as well as balance chemical and emotional functions, which will …affect your mood.”17

In 1998, California Graduate Institute, did a study “… to determine whether reflexology therapy--the application of manual pressure to reflex points on the ears, hands, and feet that somatotopically correspond to specific areas of the body--can significantly reduce premenstrual symptoms compared to placebo treatment. METHODS: Thirty-five women who complained of previous distress with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) were randomly assigned to be treated by ear, hand, and foot reflexology or to receive placebo reflexology. All subjects completed a daily diary, which monitored 38 premenstrual symptoms on a four-point scale. Somatic and psychological indicators of premenstrual distress were recorded each day for 2 months before treatment, for 2 months during reflexology, and for 2 months afterward. The reflexology sessions for both groups were provided by a trained reflexology therapist once a week for 8 weeks, and lasted 30 minutes each. RESULTS: Analysis of variance for repeated measures demonstrated a significantly greater decrease in premenstrual symptoms for the women given true reflexology treatment than for the women in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: These clinical findings support the use of ear, hand, and foot reflexology for the treatment of PMS.”18

 How Shiatsu can help

 For those who may prefer body therapy with a difference, the Japanese modality of Shiatsu, offers a comprehensive protocol, for relieving the symptoms of PMS, or even resolving it completely.

Menstrual problems respond well to Shiatsu. In Chinese medicine terms they may often be an imbalance of the liver function (liver in Chinese medicine terms rather than the Western organ). In traditional Chinese theory the liver controls the smooth flow of blood in the body.

Treating the liver (or related channels which may be impairing the liver function) can energize the pathways, clear blood clotting and stagnation, and improve blood circulation. This in turn may relieve other menstrual symptoms, because the Shiatsu practitioner is treating the whole body,

not just each separate symptom. In Chinese medicine liver imbalance is also believed to be the cause of other symptoms of PMT (or PMS) such as anger, irritability, and sugar cravings. Thus treating the imbalance can subsequently relieve such additional symptoms.