Holistic massage therapy reduces tension and pain by relaxing the body’s muscles. Pressure is applied to areas of the body to help you relax. Massage is not only a physical therapy. It can reduce stress and many other mental and emotional problems also.
Many types of practices are associated with massage and include bodywork, manual therapy, energy medicine, neural mobilization and breath work. Other names for massage and related practices include hands-on work, body/somatic therapy, and somatic movement education.
Beneficial effects
The benefits of massage include pain relief, reduced anxiety and depression. Other benefits may include reduced blood pressure, heart rate, and lowered states of anxiety. Additional testing has shown an immediate increase and expedited recovery periods for muscle performance.
Theories behind what massage might do include enhanced skeletal muscle regrowth and remodelling, blocking nociception (gate control theory), activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which may stimulate the release of endorphins and serotonin, preventing fibrosis or scar tissue, increasing the flow of lymph, and improving sleep.