The Benefits of Massage - by System

General Massage Benefits 

• Massage is a pleasurable experience
• Massage restores stress, tension and anxiety levels
• Massage calms the nervous system and has produces equilibrium
• Massage relaxes, focuses and clears your mind
• Massage boosts self-esteem and a general feeling of well being
• Massage restores self-awareness

Muscular system

• Massage relaxes muscles, effectively reducing spasms, tension and cramping
• Massage reduces and breaks down adhesions (knots) and fibrosis
• Massage helps to re-establish proper muscular tone
• Massage relieves muscle and soft tissue pain
• Massage increases the vascularity and nutrition to various muscles
• Massage helps muscles recover more quickly from exertion and fatigue
• Massage supports increased work capacity and encourages your metabolism
• Massage helps to wasting from injury and paralysis

Skeletal system

• Massage reduces joint strain and compression through releasing tight muscles and tendons
• Massage increases the ease and efficiency of your movements
• Massage helps to increase the retention of nitrogen, phosphorous, and sulphur in the bones and this aids in fracture healing
• Massage improves the circulation and nutrition of the joints and helps increase range of joint movement

Circulatory system

• Massage enhances the elimination of the waste products of metabolism
• Massage helps to reduce any swelling and contusions
• Massage increases the number of red blood cells in circulation
• Massage has the overall effect of lowering your blood pressure and reduces pulse rate
• Massage facilitates tissue healing through the enhancement of circulation
• Massage increases tissue fluid and assists lymphatic circulation thus reducing swelling and enhancing the immune and filtering activities of this system
• Massage increases both venous and lymphatic flow
• Massage increases the nutrition of the tissues via an increased exchange of fluids and materials
• Massage, via the mechanical actions on the soft tissues, produces a dilation of the blood vessels, which helps to improve circulation
• Massage helps to reduce the lack of blood and by direct pressure and stimulation reduces pain due to the irritation of nerves that control circulatory system

Nervous system

• Massage relaxes the muscles
• It helps to re-establish proper tonus through its effect on the neuromuscular reflex pathways
• Massage is known to affect the neurotransmitters of the brain and increase endorphin secretion in particular by means of natural painkillers
• Massage can help reduce nerve entrapment through the release of soft tissue or muscular binding
• Massage can reduce nerve root compression caused by muscular tension
• Massage can have a sedative, stimulating or even exhausting effect on the nervous system depending on the type and length of treatment given

Excretory system 

• Massage can facilitate elimination through the large intestines by mechanically stimulating peristalsis and improving tone
• Massage stimulates peristalsis and can reduce cramping or spasm in the digestive tract.
• Massage aides the normal movement throughout alimentary canal assisting with many dysfunctions through its stress releasing effects
• Massage increases the excretion of fluids and waste products from protein metabolism, inorganic phosphorous and salt in normal individuals

Skin

• Massage helps to reduce tension in the skin and adjoining tissues as well as increasing its circulation and improve its nutrition
• Massage depending on the medium used to apply it can help to re-moisturize, and soften dry skin
• Massage can help with some skin conditions like eczema 

Respiratory system

• Massage deepens and normalizes the breathing pattern
• Massage can help to relieve congestion from respiratory organs like lungs through percussive and compressive movements
• Massage increases the action of the heart, stimulating the blood flow to different organs and peripheral vascular system, helping with the elimination of waste and the absorption of oxygen