Friday, October 23, 2009

Fitness Benefits of Massage

We all know that a massage can relieve stress, help to make sore muscles feel better and even reduce anxiety, but can it help us achieve our fitness goals? Research shows that the massage you get to relieve stress can also have a positive effect on your muscle-building capabilities and fitness level.

Massage improves circulation and general nutrition of muscles. This appears to be the most valuable fitness-related benefit. After a muscle is exercised, vital nutrients must be supplied in order for it to increase in size. Massage maximizes the supply of nutrients and oxygen through increased blood flow, which helps the body rebuild itself.

Massage improves range of motion and muscle flexibility. This results in increased power and performance, which helps you work efficiently and with proper intensity to help the body’s muscle building response.

Massage helps to shorten recovery time between workouts. Waste products such as lactic and carbonic acid build up in muscles after exercise. Increased circulation to these muscles helps to eliminate toxins and shorten recovery time.

Massage can help prevent over-training. Massage has a relaxing effect on the muscles, as well as a calming effect on the nervous system. This can help prevent the limiting effect on muscle building caused by over-training.

Massage can aid in fat loss. According to research, massage may burst the fat capsule in subcutaneous tissue so that the fat spreads out and becomes absorbed. In this way, combined with proper nutrition, massage may help in weight loss.

Massage helps prevent and even heal injuries. By stretching connective tissue, massage improves circulation to help prevent or break down adhesions.

While a massage won’t build muscle directly, it helps the body’s rebuilding phase following a workout and influences muscular growth. Getting a massage is just as important as regular workouts. Great news for those of us who thought working out was all hard work!!


The many benefits of massage...

Choose your style: Shiatsu, Swedish, Thai, Sports. Get the one that suits you.

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