Research according to the Touch Research Institute in Miami shows that massage can help manage stress, offers relief from sore muscles, manages depression, encourages growth and responsiveness in premature infants and can ease labour, among many other things.

Studies indicate that Massage:

  • Is effective in promoting recovery from fatigue produced by excessive exercise

  • Helps reduce swelling from fractures

  • Can loosen mucus and promote drainage of fluids from the lungs by using percussive and vibratory techniques

  • Can increase peristaltic action (muscular contractions) in the intestines to promote fecal elimination

  • Decreases pain and sympathetic nervous system firing

  • Decreases hypertonicity in the muscles

  • Breaks the pain spasm cycle and decreases spasm

  • Maintains range of motion and strength

  • Stretches shortened muscles

  • Improves tissue health and increases circulation to remove metabolites

  • Reduces facial restrictions

  • Encourages local circulation in weak taut structures

  • Relieves compressive forces on the disk and nerves

  • Educates the individual through a self care plan

In preventing disease, healing illnesses, and promoting health on a mental, physical, emotional and behavioral level one should understand the differences between Conventional medicine and Complimentary / Alternative medicine as they adopt very different approaches toward the definition and treatment of disease.  Conventional medicine is diagnosis-led: Doctors use symptoms and medical tests to assess the problem in acute and chronic diseases and conditions and in reaching the final conclusion make a diagnosis of what the person is presented with and prescribe treatment accordingly in the form of drugs, surgery or rehabilitation.

Complimentary medicine on the other hand comes into play once a doctor has made a diagnosis and the individual does not want to follow through with drug or surgery intervention but rather wants to take responsibility for self healing in looking for alternative ways to help heal themselves or to rectify their present medical conditions whether it be acute or chronic.  It is here that illness signifies a disruption between physical and mental well-being and by the individual taking self responsibility, being self aware and committing to treatment allows the body to stimulate its natural self healing and self regulating ability to heal and rectify the imbalances or symptoms within the body.

Who Benefits From Massage?
Everyone from birth to palliative care can benefit from massage and bodywork. After a hard day at the office, in the garden, home or a trauma of some kind, a back or foot reflexology can ease the residue of tautness. Massage and bodywork is not necessarily “spoiling” oneself; it is a practical helpful, healing way of helping the mind and body to function optimally.

Do We Refer To A Chiropractor?
One of the main reasons for us at Massage Network to consider referral to a chiropractor is for diagnoses and when problems that are not responding to massage, or are severe enough that the appropriateness of massage is in question, is always referred.  Once we refer the chiropractor will usually deliver chiropractic care while advising the patient to continue massage therapy. In some instances the chiropractor will treat the patient until the situation improves enough to allow further massage. In others, the chiropractor will recognize a case severe enough to refer immediately for medical treatment.  Though most massage clients do not require referral, we acknowledge that it is essential to recognize those who should be referred for more extensive evaluation and or treatment.

Do We Refer To A PHYSIOTHERAPIST?
Depending on the nature of the problem, we do refer to physiotherapists.  Clients who have been in a physio's care, will seek the services of  a massage therapist for massage bodywork to maintain the health of the muscles & the skeleton.

Should you be experiencing one of the following symptoms refer to our Bodywork section to locate a therapy that will suit your needs.

SYMPTOMS OF STRESS

  • Physical symptoms of work stress

  • Anxiety, increased heart rate and blood pressure

  • Increased secretions of stress hormones

  • Gastro-intestinal disorders such as ulcers

  • Increased frequency of injuries and accidents

  • Physical fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome

  • Headaches, low back pain and muscle tension

  • Irritability and restlessness eg; pacing up and down, excessive foot tapping

  • Trembling, shaking, shivers, twitching

  • Sleep disturbance

BEHAVIOURAL SYMPTOMS OF WORK STRESS

  • Procrastination, work avoidance and absenteeism

  • Lowered performance and productivity

  • Diminished innovation within the wok, place

  • Increased alcohol and drug use and abuse

  • Outright sabotage on the job

  • Over-eating or under eating

  • Increased risk taking behaviour 

  • Aggression, stealing and violent acting out

  • Deteriorating relationships with family and friends

PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS OF WORK STRESS

  • Anxiety, tension an irritability

  • Feelings of frustration, anger and resentment

  • Hypersensitivity and hyper-activity

  • Suicide or attempted suicide

  • Withdrawal and depression

  • Reduced effectiveness in communication

  • Feelings of isolation and alienation

  • Boredom and job dissatisfaction

  • Mental fatigue and poor concentration

  • Lowered self esteem and spontaneity

  • Indecisiveness and forgetfulness

SOCIAL SYMPTOMS OF WORK STRESS

  • Harbouring of resentment

  • Inability to be intimate

  • Social withdrawal (even from friends and family

  • Lack of trust

  • Poor work place relationships

  • Sense of loneliness

SPIRITUAL SYMPTOMS OF WORK STRESS

  • Sense of unforgiving

  • Cynicism

  • Apathy constant fear of death

  • Inability to perceive a happy future

  • Sense of life having no meaning

Please click on the link below for more information:
http://www.miami.edu/touchresearch.html