The Principles of Massage

Principles of Massage

Massage is a form of manual therapy, executed primarily with the hands and sometimes with the assistance of additional tools. It targets all tissues of the body. Muscles and tendons are very accessible, along with many capsules, ligaments, and ligament-capsule systems.

There are various forms and techniques of massage, depending on the concept and the specific goal.

The range of effects of each technique is determined by factors such as pressure, speed, direction, and rhythm. Rapid movements with stronger pressure have a toning effect, while slower applications tend to be detoning.

In classical massage, strokes are typically performed from the periphery towards the center, or from distal to proximal.

The massage treatment relies on numerous processes, some of which are closely linked and intertwined. These processes can also influence each other.

Massage is certainly based on the following effects, which have been well-studied scientifically:

• Mechanical Effects

• Biochemical Effects

• Reflex Effects

• Psychological Effects

• Immunomodulatory Effects

Mechanical Effects

Massage, through the shifting of different tissues, results in the release of adhesions in their structures (for example, between the cutis and subcutis against the body's fascia or periosteum). Pathological crosslinks between the collagen fibers of the connective tissue are also resolved.

Increased blood flow and lymphatic drainage are among the most studied effects of massage. Lymphatic drainage is recognized in conventional medicine and is often used and necessary post-surgery. Lymphatic flow is both increased and accelerated. This results in the reduction of edema and enhanced elimination of metabolic waste products. The logical consequence is an improved supply of nutrients to the tissue.

Biochemical Effects

More intense massage techniques release biochemical substances, such as inflammatory mediators like histamine, endorphins, and serotonin. These substances influence tissue blood flow, wound healing, and pain inhibition. The context, type of treatment, and its intensity and duration play important roles.

Reflex Effects

Gate Control Theory: The body has nerve fibers of different thicknesses depending on their importance. Pain transmission to the CNS occurs through thin and thus slower, known as unmyelinated (A-Delta), nerve fibers. By stimulating receptors in the skin, muscles, and joints, which send their information to the CNS via thick myelinated fast (A-Beta) nerve fibers, the slower incoming information can be inhibited at the spinal cord level.

Additionally, a general increase in blood circulation results in pain inhibition. This is also utilized in pharmaceuticals.

The predominant stimulation of thick nerve fibers, which leads to pain inhibition, directly results in reduced sympathetic reflex activity.

Muscle Tone Regulating Effects

The direct manual effect in massage serves to regulate muscle tension or muscle tone. Massage can have both a tone-reducing and a tone-enhancing effect. Through mechanical stimulation of the muscle spindle and the myostatic reflex, the muscle spindle can again be influenced, altering the tone or contraction readiness.

Psychogenic Effects

Psychogenic effects are among the most significant of massage. Most people associate massage with positive effects and an absence of side effects. It is perceived as a pleasant form of therapy. This leads to a general relaxation and enhances all mentioned effects. Through the reduction/inhibition/reduced activity of the sympathetic nervous system and the breakdown of stress hormones, improved wound healing and immunity are achieved.

Through the limbic system, the hypothalamus is controlled, and stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are less released. Through serotonin, an improvement in depressive moods has been demonstrated.

Immunomodulatory Effects

An increase in the non-specific body's own defense is triggered by cellular changes due to massage. Studies showed (Werner 1997) a reduction in specific defense, thereby implying a reduction in hypersensitivity reactions. Through a decrease in stress hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol, there is a simultaneous improvement in wound healing and collagen synthesis.