Welcome to this months Blog of how MASSAGE can be a ‘treat’ but also has many other great health benefits!
Who am I and why is massage so good for you…??
Hi, I’m Emma, the latest member of the Ashbourne Physio Team working along with the other massage team members Tammy and Hayley.
I’m a qualified remedial massage therapist and really love helping people with their aches and pains. I went into massage after watching people suffer with their aches and pains for years, it can really take its toll on your daily life, mood, work and sleep. Most people assume that as we get older, we should simply accept aches and pains as part of life, but did you know sometimes all we need is a good massage. My passion is seeing the relief patients get from their aches and pains following a massage. However, now I want to go further and really get to the bottom of what causes a patient’s dysfunction, which is why I am studying an Osteopathy degree. Getting to the source of the problem can reduce or prevent its reoccurrence.
On the rare occasion I get a break from working or studying, I love nothing more than escaping into the Peak District and enjoying the wonderful scenery we have. Having lived in the area all my life, I’m still finding new beauty spots to explore with hubby. Our most recent adventures have been up Baslow and Curbar Edge and Ladybower. Those that know me best, know my next favourite thing is a good cuppa!
BUT, what is it that makes massage so good…?
When our muscles are subjected to force or overuse, from work, bad posture, sport or other daily activities they develop microinjuries or tears to the muscle fibres. Our body will repair muscle fibres as it starts to heal, but will also lay down connective scar tissue. This decreases the strength of the muscle, reduces it elasticity and makes it prone to further injury. Massage helps to break down scar tissue and adhesions, it stretches contracted muscles and encourages blood flow to the region, this in turn brings fresh nutrients and removes waste, speeding up and encouraging the healing process. This then increases muscle flexibility and increases range of movement.
Did you know massage can also help our joints?
Image credit: www.everydayhealth.com
When a muscle becomes tight or restricted, the bones at our joints become closer together. This adds unnecessary pressure to our joints. Compressive forces placed on our joints for a length of time can hinder the distribution of our synovial fluid which is essential to keep our joints lubricated and our cartilage healthy. Massage restores our muscles back to their normal state and breaks down adhesions allowing the best mechanical conditions for your joints and reducing unnecessary loading, this prevents your cartilage being worn away more easily. By massaging and reducing restrictions in the muscles, the joint can move more freely, distributing your synovial fluid and keeping your joints lubricated and healthy.
Did you know massage can help your pain in a race to the gate?
Ever wondered why we rub our toe when we stub it…
Our body has sensory receptors called mechanoreceptors which sense pressure and respond to massage therapy. Massage stimulates these sensory receptors by sensing the mechanical pressure applied and sends signals to our spinal cord. Lucky for us these signals beat the pain receptor signals to the ‘gate’ in the spinal cord and limit the amount of pain signals travelling to our brain, the effect of this reduces pain.
Why does massage make us happy?
Image credit: ww.interlude.com
Massage stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system which produces the relaxation response in the body. This stimulates the brain to produce endorphins which are natural painkillers. Endorphins combine at receptors and block pain signals. The stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system also slows down the heart rate and aids the muscles to relax. Human touch also triggers the release of Oxytocin which is linked to a warm, fuzzy feeling, some research has shown this to reduce anxiety and lower stress.
Did you know massage can help with headaches?
Image credit: www.newhealth.com
There are so many types of headaches. Cervicogenic headaches are a type of headache that originates in the neck and can cause pain that radiates into the head. There are so many ways we can cause our muscles in the back of neck to become stiff, including lifting or slouching. Tension or dysfunction in these muscles or underlying structures can aggravate the nerves travelling to our head. Massage can ease tension in the neck muscles and can actually stop these headaches at their source.
These are only a few of the ways massage is good for us.
Looking for a gift? 
Why not treat a loved one to a relaxing or sports massage?
Gift vouchers are available from our Reception.
Please call: 01335 344952 Ashbourne
01283 777070 Hilton
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