We all know massages feel great, whether they be full body, neck, or a foot massage. However, did you know that there are physiological reasons behind why a massage is so soothing? Your body reacts in a positive way to massages because of the specific way massage therapists target muscles and pains you have.
With physical activity and intense exercise comes a higher likelihood of injury. Micro-tears in your muscle fibers, as well as other injuries, are common with certain activities. While the body can typically repair these fibers on its own, your body will elicit an inflammatory response. This response is important to keeping your body healthy, but it can lead to soreness and redness. Massages can help with this by producing cytokines, a protein that can reduce the negative effects of this inflammatory response. This is true for anywhere in the body, including the foot (where many inflammatory injuries occur!).
Massages can also speed up the recovery time for an injury. By stimulating the mitochondria, extra energy is created, meaning that there is additional energy available for repair. Along with the mitochondria, massages help repair the fascia, a string of fibers that hold together your cells and tissues. Massages essentially help the fascia become more flexible so that it can relieve tension, heal minor cuts, and more.
Many Americans utilize massages for overall well-being and decreased stress, but there are also great underlying health benefits. If you are experiencing tension in your feet, it may be time to schedule a foot massage. By signing up for Alpine Foot Specialists’ e-mail newsletter, you will automatically be entered to win a foot massage. However, if you are experiencing an abnormal amount of pain, schedule an appointment with us today!
Courtesy of: New York Times