Massage Benefits Your Lymph and Muscles

       In this edition, we’ll look at the remaining 3 benefits Massage can provide from my original longer list from the previous 2 blog entries.  They are:

•      Improved Lymph Flow 
•      Improved Condition of Muscles 
•      Avoidance of Muscle Injury

       Lymph is an almost colorless fluid, containing chiefly white blood cells that is collected from the tissues of the body and transported in the lymphatic system.  Massage can help greatly to increase lymph flow in our bodies.  As this rate increases, so does the rate at which the body rids of harmful and toxic substances from the tissues.  Massage can also aid in decreasing any swelling you may have in your body.  In general, light massage strokes tend to increase lymphatic flow while deeper pressure strokes increase blood flow.

       Massage can help the condition of your muscles.  Your muscles are controlled by your brain and primitive reflexes within the spinal cord.  There are sensors within your muscles that monitor length and contraction strength.  Sometimes these sensors get a little confused and leave your muscles in a contracted state beyond your level of control.  One example is when your shoulders raise up slightly as a response to stress.  If this contracted state is sustained long enough, it will stay tight without you even trying.

       This unintended tension increase happens all over your body in small ways sometimes because of stress and sometimes because of injury.  Massage can help to reset these sensors by allowing them to relax and lengthen the muscles.  If the level of tension is coming from a feedback loop in the spinal cord, massage can help to reset that system by releasing chemicals in your spine that naturally block those chemicals thereby cutting the circuit that keeps your muscles tight.

       The sensory feedback that you get from massage can help you become more aware of those areas that you may have become unconscious of.  Feeling the hands of the therapist is a great way on a conscious level to relax and let go.

       Massage can help you avoid injury.  Many muscle injuries occur only after muscle has been suffering from tension for many months.   With increased tension, the added load of exercise finally causes the tissues to fail.  Increased tension can also affect other structures like the discs in your spine.  The spinal discs are designed to support the weight of your upper body, but if there is muscular tension in your back, this can increase the pressure on your discs which can in turn bulge.  Although massage can’t help much to heal a bulging disc, it can help remove any tension which can contribute to injury.  

       If you already have an injury, massage is a great adjunct to normal healing of a muscle strain.  Oftentimes, when a muscle is injured, it tightens to protect itself which decreases blood flow to the muscle which makes healing more difficult.  A few days after the initial injury, massage can help to increase blood flow and loosen the muscle which in turn speeds healing.  Although massage can Increase blood flow, reduce tension and make muscles feel better, every injury needs time and gentleness on your part to fully heal.