What happens during a massage that affects the muscle and tendons in such a way as to relieve much of the pain caused by spasms, stress, overuse and poor muscle conditioning? Well first, when you massage an area bloodflow is increased. This increase in bloodflow works to eliminate toxins that form when a muscle is overworked. It also adds much needed oxygen and other nutrients to the muscle fibers. But other things occur as well. Probably the most important aspect of a massage on muscle tissues and the joints they affect is the stretching component. Throughout a massage muscles fibers are being continuously stretched and compressed. This can happen along sections of the muscles as in what occurs durring stripping, or along the whole length of the muscle and connecting tendons. It is both the stretching and compressing together that contributes to the release of tension throughout the muscle. What does this mean? It emphasizes the importance of stretching. Not just before and after working out, but continued stretching throughout the day. Dont get me wrong, before and after a workout are the most important times that a body needs to be stretched, but not the only time. Actually stretching is not the best word to use. I prefer to say full range of motion. Because it is taking a muscle through its full range of motion that has the best result. In additiuon to the fact that many people are incorrectly taught how to stretch. The stretching that most people have come to associate with the term is actually supposed to be used only prior to an athletic or strenous event. Stretching to relax the muscle, and lenghten the fibers should be done without force and held for a maximum of 3 seconds. Holding a stretch for more than that creates an isometric force on the muscle resulting in a workout. This works well to warm the muscle up for an event. But at this point the muscle starts to contract and therefore does not relax. Full range of motion works to compress and lengthen the fibers thus breaking up the tension that builds in the muscle.
