Massage therapy can be used to treat a specific condition or as a preventative measure to decrease stress and tension and prevent injury from occurring. Massage improves circulation to and from joints which decreases pain and enhances the healing process. Therapists assess and treat muscles, ligaments, fasciae and joints of the body.
An increasing number of clinical research studies show massage reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure, increases blood circulation and lymph flow, relaxes muscles and improves range of motion. Although therapeutic massage does not increase muscle strength, it can stimulate weak, inactive muscles and, thus, aid in the recovery from injury.
