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Massage

It seems like today almost everyone knows what massage is. However, according to polls, only 27% of people who suffer from some functional disorders in the spine are turning to medical massages. The fact is that most people only know about the mechanical effect of a massage on the body. This is understandable because the therapist rubs, kneads, squeezes, stretches, compresses and displaces various body tissues, helping to enhance the circulation of blood and interstitial fluid as well as helping with the removal of dead skin cells. The mechanical effect of the massage on the body is that it eliminates congestion, increases metabolism and skin respiration. However, this is only a small part of its impact.

An important component of a medical massage is its reflexive and humoral effect usually only known to specialists. Massage affects the central and autonomic nervous systems. During the massage, skin receptors, muscles, tendons, joint capsules, ligaments and blood vessel walls become irritated. Impulses that are caused by this irritation are transmitted to the central nervous system and reach the respective parts of the cerebral cortex. There arises the overall complex reaction that causes functional changes in the body. This mechanism has been described in detail in the work of a Russian physiologist Pavlov – any irritation to the nervous receptors is transformed into a signal that runs to the central nervous system through nerve waves and from there it is brought to the working organ, whilst transforming into a particular body of cells.

Under the influence of the massage, biologically active substances and tissue hormones are formed in the skin by which vascular reactions occur, nerve impulses are transmitted and other processes. There is also a rapid formation of histamine and similar substances that carry blood and lymph throughout the body which has a beneficial effect on blood vessels, internal organs and systems. In particular, by acting on the adrenal glands, histamine causes increased secretion of adrenaline. Another compound, acetylcholine, acts as an active intermediary in the transmission of the nerve signal from one nerve cell to another, thus creating favourable conditions for the activity of skeletal muscle as well as promoting the expansion of small arteries and improving breathing.

All of this proves once again that with the help of a massage we will be using our ‘inner pharmacy’. Massage helps us to cope with health problems without drugs, by using our own reserves. Massage is a powerful tool in the hands of a specialist, that allows one to influence a person’s overall well-being.