Busting Common Massage Myths

by Remedy Wellness Centre | Jan 9, 2025 | Massage Therapy

Busting Common Myths: What’s Not Happening During Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is often surrounded by misconceptions, especially about what happens beneath the surface during a session. Terms like “breaking down adhesions” or “working out knots” are often used, but they don’t always align with the science of how massage works. In this article, we’ll debunk some of the most common myths about massage therapy and explain what’s not happening during a session—while highlighting what actually makes massage so effective.

Massage Myth 1: Deep Pressure Is Always Necessary

One common belief is that the deeper the pressure, the better the results. Many people think that unless a massage feels intense or even painful, it isn’t effective.

Reality:

The effectiveness of massage doesn’t depend on how much pressure is applied but rather on how it interacts with the nervous system. Too much pressure can activate the body’s protective response, leading to muscle tension and even discomfort. Instead, skilled massage therapists use the appropriate pressure to relax tissues and communicate with the nervous system, encouraging the body to release tension naturally.

Gentler techniques often provide equally effective, if not better, results by reducing stress and calming the nervous system.

Massage Myth 2: Massage Breaks Down Adhesions

It’s common to hear that massage “breaks down adhesions” or “releases scar tissue.” This concept has fueled the belief that therapists can physically manipulate or break apart fibrous tissues beneath the skin.

Reality:

Massage doesn’t physically break down adhesions or scar tissue. Adhesions are dense formations of connective tissue that cannot be simply “broken” by manual pressure. What massage does is improve blood flow, reduce tension, and encourage normal tissue mobility.

Massage may also enhance the elasticity of the surrounding tissues, making movement feel freer, but this occurs through nervous system responses and improved hydration of fascia, not through mechanical breakdown.

Massage Myth 3: Knots Are Tangled Muscles That Need to Be Worked Out

Many clients report feeling “knots” in their muscles and believe these need to be pressed out or removed to relieve pain and tension.

Reality:

Muscle “knots” are not literal tangles. They are areas of hypertonicity (increased tension) or trigger points—sensitive spots in the muscle that can cause referred pain. These areas respond to techniques that reduce neural hyperactivity, not by being physically “untied” or broken down.

Massage therapy works by calming the nervous system and improving circulation in these tense areas, helping the body to release the tension naturally.

Massage Myth 4: Massage Flushes Out Toxins

The idea that massage can “detoxify” the body by flushing out toxins is widespread, with many believing it’s necessary to drink lots of water post-massage to aid this process.

Reality:

Your liver and kidneys are responsible for detoxifying your body, not your muscles. Massage improves circulation and lymphatic flow, which supports the body’s natural processes, but it doesn’t remove toxins directly. While staying hydrated is always beneficial, the idea of massage as a “detox” isn’t supported by science.

Massage Myth 5: You Need to Feel Sore After a Massage for It to Work

Many people think that post-massage soreness is a sign that the therapist did a good job, especially after a deep tissue massage.

Reality:

Soreness after a massage can occur, but it’s not an indicator of effectiveness. In fact, excessive soreness might mean the pressure used was too intense for your tissues. A skilled therapist aims to work within your body’s comfort zone, promoting relaxation and healing without unnecessary discomfort.

Massage therapy is most effective when it feels good during and after the session. If you’re experiencing significant soreness, let your therapist know so they can adjust their approach.

What Actually Happens During Massage Therapy

Now that we’ve cleared up some misconceptions, let’s look at what’s really happening during massage therapy:

1. Nervous System Regulation: Massage activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and reducing stress.
2. Improved Circulation: Gentle pressure increases blood and lymph flow, delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues and supporting healing.
3. Muscle Relaxation: Massage helps calm overactive muscle fibers and reduce tension.
4. Pain Modulation: By stimulating sensory receptors in the skin, massage can interrupt pain signals and promote the release of endorphins.
5. Fascial Hydration: Massage can improve the movement and hydration of fascia, the connective tissue surrounding muscles, enhancing mobility and comfort.

The Takeaway

Massage therapy is a powerful tool for relaxation, recovery, and pain management, but it’s not about physically breaking down tissues or using excessive force. Instead, it works through gentle, evidence-based mechanisms that support your body’s natural processes.

If you’ve been holding onto any of these misconceptions, it’s time to let them go and embrace what massage therapy truly offers—a path to healing through care, precision, and a deep understanding of the body.

Ready to experience the real benefits of massage therapy? Book your session today and feel the difference!

Discover the truth behind therapeutic touch at Remedy Wellness Centre.

The Science Behind Therapeutic Touch: What Happens in the Nervous System During Massage Therapy

by Remedy Wellness Centre | Jan 2, 2025 | Massage Therapy

The Science Behind Therapeutic Touch: What Happens in the Nervous System During Massage Therapy

Therapeutic touch, like massage therapy, has been used for centuries to promote relaxation and healing. But have you ever wondered what’s happening in your nervous system during a massage? Let’s explore the fascinating connection between touch and the nervous system and uncover why it’s so beneficial for your mind and body.

The Role of the Nervous System in Therapeutic Touch

Your nervous system is the body’s communication hub, managing everything from muscle movement to emotional responses. It consists of two main divisions:

1. The Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS): Activates the “fight or flight” response in stressful situations.
2. The Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS): Encourages the “rest and digest” state, helping the body relax and heal.

When stress or pain takes over, the SNS often dominates, leaving the body in a heightened state of tension. Therapeutic touch works to rebalance this system, activating the PNS and promoting a sense of calm.

How Massage Affects the Nervous System

1. Reduction in Stress Hormones
   Massage therapy has been shown to lower levels of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. Elevated cortisol can lead to chronic stress, weakened immunity, and impaired healing. By reducing cortisol, massage allows the body to enter a restorative state.
2. Release of “Feel-Good” Chemicals
   Therapeutic touch stimulates the release of endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine—neurotransmitters that promote happiness, reduce pain perception, and enhance emotional well-being.
3. Activation of the Parasympathetic Nervous System
   Through slow, rhythmic strokes and sustained pressure, massage activates the vagus nerve, a key player in the PNS. This reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and promotes relaxation.
4. Reduction in Pain Signals
   Massage stimulates sensory receptors in the skin, which send calming signals to the brain, interrupting the transmission of pain signals and creating a soothing effect.
5. Improved Neural Plasticity
   Regular therapeutic touch can enhance the brain’s adaptability, improving emotional regulation and stress management over time.

Why Therapeutic Touch Is Beneficial

1. Relieves Chronic Stress and Anxiety
   Chronic stress keeps the SNS in overdrive. Therapeutic touch restores balance by encouraging the PNS to take over, helping to reduce anxiety and stress-related symptoms.
2. Improves Sleep Quality
   By calming the nervous system and promoting the release of serotonin (a precursor to melatonin), massage therapy can improve sleep quality and help those with insomnia.
3. Supports Pain Management
   Whether it’s tension headaches, back pain, or muscle soreness, therapeutic touch reduces pain perception by interrupting pain signals and increasing blood flow to the affected areas.
4. Boosts Immune Function
   Lower stress levels mean a stronger immune response. Studies have shown that regular massage therapy can enhance immune system function by reducing cortisol and boosting lymphatic circulation.
5. Enhances Emotional Well-Being
   Touch is a fundamental human need. Therapeutic touch fosters a sense of connection and safety, which is essential for emotional health.

The Takeaway

When you experience therapeutic touch, your nervous system undergoes a transformation—from a state of stress and tension to one of relaxation and restoration. By lowering stress hormones, relieving pain, and boosting emotional well-being, massage therapy offers more than just physical benefits—it supports your whole-body health.

Ready to give your nervous system the care it deserves? Book a massage therapy session today and feel the healing power of therapeutic touch!

Discover the science of relaxation and renewal at Remedy Wellness Centre.