Massage Therapy Fitness

man having massage therapy for fitness

Massage Therapy for Improving Fitness

By Helen Harris-Bhavnani, RMT

Massage Improves Circulation

One of massage therapy’s many benefits is an increase in the body’s circulation. This occurs simply due to the mechanical massaging of muscles, blood and lymphatic vessels.  The blood gets “pushed” through the muscles and tissues and directed back toward the heart.  The lymphatic vessels help your muscles to repair and help to heal injuries.

It also helps (through this increased circulation) to maintain proper nutrition of your muscles. Your blood and lymphatic circulation helps to deliver nutrients, white blood cells and oxygen to your muscles. After exercising, your muscles need those nutrients and white blood cells in order to repair and grow as well as to maintain their health. Manual therapies are a great way to increase blood flow, which in turn delivers the nutrients and oxygen your body needs to help repair itself.

Massage Helps Post Workout Recovery

Your RMT can also help you to relax and rejuvenate after a work-out. Muscles that are well nourished and relaxed grow better, function better and are less prone to injuries that may threaten to derail your fitness regimen.  A 2016 study found that massage therapy was significantly more effective than no intervention on the post-race recovery from pain and perceived fatigue in long-distance triathlon athletes.  If it helps triathletes recover, it can help you too.

So get out there, get your body moving, and take care of yourself by seeing your RMT afterward.

Massage Research Sources:

Kojidi MM, Okhovatian F, Rahimi A, Baghban AA, Azimi H. Comparison Between the Effects of Passive and Active Soft Tissue Therapies on Latent Trigger Points of Upper Trapezius Muscle in Women: Single-Blind, Randomized Clinical Trial. J Chiropr Med. 2016 Dec;15(4):235-242. Epub 2016 Oct 11.

Emtiazy M, Abrishamkar M. The Effect of Massage Therapy on Children’s Learning Process: A Review. Iran J Med Sci. 2016 May;41(3 Suppl):S64.

Nunes GS, Bender PU, de Menezes FS, Yamashitafuji I, Vargas VZ, Wageck B. Massage therapy decreases pain and perceived fatigue after long-distance Ironman triathlon: a randomised trial. J Physiother. 2016 Apr;62(2):83-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jphys.2016.02.009. Epub 2016 Mar 23.

What is Deep Tissue Massage?

massage for Parkinson's disease by a registered massage therapist or RMT

What is Deep Tissue Massage (DTM) and What is it Useful for?

Deep tissue massage involves:

  1. slow, deep strokes that stretch and re-align the fibres of the muscles and
  2. deep compressions to reduce knots in the muscles.
  3. stretches are also used to lengthen muscle fibres and increase the range of movement in the joints.

Some discomfort is normal. An experienced Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) will use slow, sensitive strokes adapted to your pain threshold. You should never feel bruised or in pain the next day.

Who Provides Deep Tissue Massage?

The best practitioner to see for deep tissue massage is a registered massage therapist. They are the most highly trained professionals in bodywork for the soft tissues like muscles and tendons.

Which Conditions Benefit from Deep Tissue Massage?

  1. All musculoskeletal and related conditions including upper back, neck
    and shoulder tension, pain and stiffness
  2. Lower back pain and weakness, sciatica and all hip and pelvic pain and
    misalignment
  3. Muscle tension-related headaches
  4. Recovery from illness, surgery and trauma from accidents
  5. Poor posture

Additional Benefits of DTM

Though deep tissue massage treats the muscles and other soft tissues of the body, it can have a very beneficial effect on the whole. Because muscles are involved in so many metabolic functions, it is common to experience improvements in your health you may not associate with your muscles, such as relief from asthma or sluggish digestion.

How long is a Deep Tissue Massage Treatment?

Treatment time can vary from 30-90 minutes depending on the extent of treatment needed and your personal preference.

How will I feel after a DTM Treatment?

Relaxed and muscles should feel looser and freer. You may feel like you need a nap.  You should drink lots of water following a treatment to help flush out waste that has been mobilized by the treatment.

By Dr Pamela Frank, BSc(Hons), ND

For questions about deep tissue massage, contact Mark Lee, RMT at Forces of Nature by calling 416-481-0222 or email reception at Maria@ForcesofNature.ca to book an appointment.

4 Ways to Get the Most from a Massage

registered massage therapy by a registered massage therapist or RMT

How to Get the Most from Massage Therapy

By Helen Bhavnani, Registered Massage Therapist

Massage therapy offers many health benefits.  Here are a few tips to help you make the most of a massage treatment.

  1. Do the stretches, or other self-care activities, that our awesome massage therapists (Helen, CJ, Sam or Lois) give you at the end of your treatment. We give these exercises to you because we want you to feel better longer!
  2. Ask questions. If you’re unclear about anything, please ask us to clarify.  If you think of something after you get home, call or email us especially if you are not sure about how often you should be coming for treatment.
  3. Come more often. Sometimes we can’t properly treat you in only one session. You will often feel better after one treatment, but find that soon afterward you go back to feeling aches and pains again. This means the underlying cause is not fully resolved. So like anything, give it a little more time. If massage is not helping your condition, we will always refer you to someone who we think will.
  4. Give us feedback. If you want us to change something about the way we do your
    treatment, if you’re not comfortable with something, or if you feel it would be more effective if we did something differently, please tell us. You know your body best. We want you to have the best experience possible, and it’s your treatment. We are there for you!
  5. Hydrate.  Before and after a treatment it’s a good idea to drink plenty of water to help the body flush out waste that has been mobilized by the massage.