Why Massage Therapy?

Massage has been practiced for thousands of years. Throughout the years, many cultures all over the world have developed their own forms of massage, using it for healing or spiritual purposes. Some of these techniques and modalities are still taught and practiced today.

Physical Effects

Massage affects an individual’s overall wellness. Physically, massage targets the skin and skeletal muscles. (Certain techniques such as Manual Lymph Drainage or reflexology might target lymphatic flow or pressure points, respectively.) The physical manipulation of the soft tissue (muscles, skin, etc.) increases the flow of blood to the area. With the blood comes oxygen and nutrients. It can almost be looked at as a breath of fresh air for your skin and muscles.

Some physical benefits of massage can include:

• Increase in metabolism

• Improved healing

• Reduced muscle cramps/spasms

• Benefits skin health and muscle tone

• Improved circulation and cardiovascular health

• Improved range of motion

• Improved pain management (Beck, 2018)

Massage can help physical conditions such as:

• Arthritis

• Neuritis

• Neuralgia

• Pregnancy

• Whiplash

• Sciatica

• Headache/Migraine

• Sports/Repetitive Injury

• Fatigue

• Body Aches & Pains

• Tendonitis                                                                (AMTA, 2025; Beck, 2018)

Psychological Effects

Besides the physical, a secondary effect of massage is on the nervous system. Massage techniques can either stimulate or soothe the nerves. Both stimulating and soothing techniques are typically used during a massage session. During longer massages (longer than 15 minutes), stress hormone levels (epinephrine & norepinephrine), heart rate, and blood pressure are all reduced, increasing the relation response (Beck, 2018). This gives the body a chance to work on cellular repair and rest.

Some psychological benefits of massage can include:

• Reduce stress

• Reduce anxiety

• Promotes mental clarity

• Improve depression

• Promote positive self-image

• Reduce insomnia

• Promote relaxation

• Renew energy levels                                              (Beck, 2018)

  
  

Many believe the reason why massage therapy continues to be so popular is for it’s non-invasive healing effect. It’s an instinct that is built in us from a young age. We bump our head, and instinctively rub it. We want to be calmed from a scary fall, we run to our mother so she can rub our back to comfort us. The principles in these examples are the same in massage therapy. It is simply amazing!

Resources:

AMTA. (2025). 25 Reasons To Get A Massage. https://www.amtamassage.org/find-massage-therapist/25-reasons-to-get-a-massage/

Beck, M. (2018). Theory & Practice of Therapeutic Massage. (6th). Cengage Learning.