The Science behind Massage Therapies

Massage in one form or another has been used in most societies throughout history to treat people with disabilities and illnesses. It is extensively embraced and accepted that massage feels good and massage therapists of the UK do a good job in it. But it is only lately that scientists began asking, how does it really work? 

Based on the bio-psychosocial model of disease and health, the investigation into mechanisms of action should expand beyond local tissue changes and include central and peripheral pain modulation. An observed favourable result may be explained by a number of overlying responses in the spinal cord, periphery, and brain,

Here are four scientific reasons, massage helps you feel better

• Affective Touch - Therapeutic stimulation of somatosensory nerves (C-tactile afferent) and interpersonal touch mediates the discharge of endogenous opioids and oxytocin, which can result in improved mood/affect, physiological and behavioral reactivity to stressors. 
• Endogenous Pain Modulation - Input from somatosensory nerves hinders nociceptive processing and set off descending inhibitory mechanisms. This controls neuroimmune processes connected with the experience of pain. Whether you do a Swedish massage or sports massage therapy these reactions do take place. 
• Contextual Factors - A helpful therapeutic encounter is tied to clinical results; the scale of response is influenced by expectation, mood, and conditioning.
• Mechanical Factors - Applied forces provoke a molecular response that helps reduce intraneural edema and accelerates clearance of harmful biochemical by-products (creatine kinase and pro-inflammatory cytokines). 

Combing through the presented evidence it is clear that the best way to explain the effects of massage therapy is not in a single amalgamated response. The responses to massage therapy are multifactorial (psychological factors and physiological factors interplay in a complex way).

The massage therapists in London are taught about these in the course and training sessions. It is important to understand the science behind massages for them. Doing something mechanically is not right in any field. 

Massage in the time of Pandemic

Today, in the time of the pandemic, the definition of massage has slightly changed. Everyone needs to take the necessary precautions. The mobile massage therapist in London needs to understand that without the basic precautions, massage will be impossible today.

Checking for fever, cold/cough, putting on gloves and mask is a basic necessity now. It will not be easy for many to shift to this change but it needs to be done for the greater good.