What happens to your muscles during and after a massage?
In: Biology
Generally depends on what kind of massage, and what state the muscles are in. But you are either trying to stimulate a systemic change in the body or damage muscle cells in a way that will help it heal so it works in a functionally better way. A lot of the effect from massage is psychological and some new studies talk about how massaging of an area actually does nothing but stimulate the body to repair or work the tissue in whatever way needed.
The common theory for deep tissue massage is that you break down/destroy tense muscle tissue and increase blood flow to the area which will stimulate proper healing of the tissue.
Massage of “lumps” in muscle tissue (idk the english for it sorry) is basically pressing down on the lump until it disappears from the pressure on the tissue.
For oiled massage and effleurage it’s more focused on stimualting the body to release tension itself.
cross massage (massaging perpendicular of the muscle tissue) can also affect muscle length for shorter periods of time
Hope this makes sense, going into the physiological changes is beyond my capabillites while keeping it ELI5
Latest Answers