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WHY MASSAGE WORKS!
Anyone who has
ever rubbed a stiff neck knows intuitively that
massages relieves pain and muscle tension. And
almost anyone who has given the process any
thought believes that the stiffness is relieved
as a result of the INCREASED FLOW OF BLOOD to
the affected area, which occurs as a result of
the rubbing action.
While an increase
and improvement in circulation is a preeminent
physical benefit of massage, many additional
benefits derive both from this primary effect
and from other dynamics. Among these are:
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Relaxation
and stress reduction
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Increase
flexibility of soft tissue
-
Reduction of
edema (swelling)
-
Enhancement
of waste and toxin elimination
-
Maintenance
of good posture and body balance
-
Prevention
atrophy (wasting) in inactive muscles
-
Improvement
in athletic performance
-
Loosening and
softening of scar tissue
-
Release of
endorphins (naturally-occurring steroids in the
body which act to assuage pain)
-
Enhancement
of muscle tone and range of motion
-
Advancement
of healing through increase flow of nutrients
to injured muscles
-
Lengthening
of connective tissue and resulting reduction in
the formation of adhesion's leading to fibrosis.
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