WELLNESS AUTHOR
Jessica Tranchina, PT, DPT
5 MASSAGE MYTHS DEBUNKED n Think you know your massage facts? You might be surprised.
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anual therapies are considered some of the oldest wellness practices — the use of one’s hands as the medical or wellness tool dates back to as early as 400 B.C. in Europe. By definition, a manual therapy treatment is one that utilizes systematic manipulation of the soft tissues of the body. Massage therapy is just one form of this practice, specifically using a technique of fixed or variable pressure on muscles and body tissues using the hands and fingers. In a more direct definition, massage therapy is the manipulation of skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments by a licensed therapist to promote wellness, range of motion and many other
OCTOBER 2021
health benefits. However, there are many myths surrounding the science of applied massage therapy, so it is important to educate yourself and get to know this therapy better and how it can improve your body and your life.
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Massage Therapy Only Affects the Muscles
Massage therapy generally involves the muscles, so it’s easy for someone to arrive at this conclusion. However, science has proven that the treatment can do much more for the body than just simple muscle manipulation. Here are the different ways in which massage therapy can affect certain parts of the body:
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• Stimulates lymph nodes • Improves posture • Reduces emotional or physical stress • Promotes feelings of well-being • Reduces muscle tension and stiffness • Relieves muscle spasms • Increases joint and muscle flexibility • Promotes deeper and easier breathing • Enhances blood circulation and lymph movement • Relieves tension-related headaches and eyestrain • Allows soft tissue injuries to heal faster • Reduces the chances of scar tissue from forming • Promotes healthy skin
