Massage consists of gentle stroking, kneading or mild stretching of the muscles either while in a seated position (chair massage) or a full-body massage while lying on a table. Massage may be done through one's clothing or on exposed skin.
Massage is the practice of applying structured or unstructured pressure, tension, motion, or vibration-manually or with mechanical aids-to the soft tissues of the body, including muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments, joints and lymphatic vessels, to achieve a beneficial response.
Studies have found that massage helps reduce feelings of pain and helps decrease anxiety. Because massage can reduce tension in the body, patients often feel better and may need less pain medication during recovery. Massage can be particularly beneficial to patients who have open heart surgery and the related back pain after surgery due to the rib cage being opened for access to the heart.
Massage can relieve tension in your muscles, and most people use it for relaxation, relief of stress and anxiety, or to reduce muscle soreness. Massage can also cause your body to release natural painkillers, and it boosts your immune system.
A regular massage may do more than just relax your body: It also appears to reduce pain and improve function in people suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee, a new study suggests.
