How massage facilitates health Massage exerts its beneficial effects primarily through stress reduction and the repair of damaged tissues. Stress is a primary health problem experienced by many in this fast-paced society. Massage alleviates stress in a number of ways. First, massage physiologically induces relaxation. It soothes the nervous system, which allows the body to relax.
Further massage decreases blood pressure and pulse, which also reduces stress.
Massage does this by increasing the flow of blood to the lymphatic system. In addition to mitigating the stress in our bodies, massage actually can relieve pain and swelling in our muscles and joints. Bone and tissue repair are stimulated by massage directly around the injured bone. Massage increases the retention of nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur which are key in repairing injured tissue. Further, massage eliminates metabolic by-products, such as lactic acid, that are lodged in muscles.