Massage dilates or opens up blood vessels, improving the circulation and relieving congestion. Massage increases the number of red blood cells, especially in cases of anemia.
Massage relaxes muscle spasm and relieves tension.
Massage increases the blood supply and nutrition to muscles without adding to their load of toxic lactic acid produced through voluntary muscle contraction. Massage improves muscle tone and helps prevent or delay muscular atrophy resulting from forced inactivity Massage can compensate, at least in part, for lack of exercise and muscular contraction in persons who because of injury, illness, or age are forced to remain inactive. In these cases, massage helps return venous blood to the heart and so eases the strain on this vital organ. Massage may have a sedative or stimulating effect on the nervous system depending on the type and length of massage treatment. According to some authorities, massage may burst the fat capsule in the subcutaneous tissue so that the fat exudes and becomes absorbed.