How effective are massages really?

 We know it from everyday life when we sit at work for a long time and our body tells us that something doesn't quite fit. It pinches, pulls and sometimes even hurts exceedingly. Whether it's in the back, neck, shoulders or legs, the first thing we instinctively do is massage the affected area, stretch or stretch. It usually feels good and if we do it "right" and catch the spot exactly, the beneficial effect lasts even longer. But there are also voices that question massages and their effects. Massage treatments are repeatedly confronted with the fact that they make false promises of healing or generally do not work. What are wellness massages, what are healing massages and what does not work at all?

We would like to give you an insight into the effects that are attributed to massages and in which cases massages can be beneficial to health. The areas of application are undoubtedly diverse.

Reading tip: From head to toe: This is how massages help

The wellness massage - relaxation for body and mind

An essential mode of action of massages is simply to relax us. It allows us to switch off, forget about everyday stress and lose ourselves in the pleasant rhythmic movements. This is already the goal of wellness massage, a soothing treatment after which we simply feel better. This form of massage is often accompanied by soothing sounds or scents, as well as heat treatments.

Even if this massage form medically no effects are assured, the factor of stress reduction and its positive effect on humans should not remain unnoticed. Mental well-being, after all, cannot be completely separated from physical well-being. In addition to wellness massage, there are of course curative massages.

The healing massage - treatment of symptoms and clinical pictures

Healing massages, as the name suggests, aim to relieve discomfort and improve the state of health. The effects of massages are based on the experience of people already thousands of years back. For certain illnesses or ailments, they are known to alleviate them or help the healing process.

Medically prescribed massages range from the areas of rehabilitation to pain relief. Therefore, let's get an overview of what effects treatments can have.

Modes of action of massages

What can kneading, tapping and stroking do in the body? Although not consistently supported scientifically, there are numerous applications for massage based on centuries of experience and observation.

Relaxation of the muscles and release of tension

As a rule, muscular tension and hardening are caused by incorrect and excessive strain. Perhaps you have also experienced that you have changed your movement pattern somewhat due to an injury. For example, many people with knee pain put more weight on the healthy knee to relieve the painful one. This leads to an incorrect and overload in the healthy area and thus to further discomfort. This is often the case with incorrect posture or movements in sports or at work.

Tension that occurs in this way can be effectively relieved by targeted massages, thereby alleviating discomfort in the affected areas. However, the cause and circumstances for the occurrence must be determined separately from the treatment in order to be sustainably eliminated.

Promotion of blood circulation

The treatment of a body part by tapping, kneading and stroking leads easily recognizable to short-term reddening. The effect is familiar to all of us who rub a spot on the skin a little more intensively for a few seconds. This is due to the fact that blood circulation is increased in the affected area.

Blood transports nutrients and oxygen, among other things, and is responsible for temperature regulation in our body. An increase in blood flow is thus intended to improve the supply to areas with complaints and thus support the healing process. Deposits and "waste products" that arise in the course of the healing process can also be transported away more quickly by the blood, which should enable faster healing.

Support for wound healing

Especially due to the circulation-promoting effect of a massage, it is suitable for stimulating and supporting wound healing. The following applies as a matter of priority: Never massage fresh wounds. In the case of scarring or longstanding wounds, a massage can certainly help to accelerate cell renewal. In this case in particular, however, medical clarification is the top priority so as not to achieve the opposite effect. Connective tissue massages are also frequently used here.

Pain relief

Particularly in the case of chronic pain, regular massages can have a pain-relieving effect or even interrupt it, even if elimination does not occur in the process. Here, too, the cause of the pain must be clarified by a doctor and a separate treatment pursued. Massage can serve here as an accompanying therapy for pain relief.

Elimination of sleep disorders

Not only physical but also psychological effects are attributed to massages. In particular, stress reduction and increased well-being take center stage and often bring about improvements in anxiety or inner restlessness. A deeper and continuous sleep can also have an effect on the general health of the body beyond the mental. Sleep is, after all, the most important method of regeneration for humans.

Promises of healing - Can massages heal?

Although the medical effect of massage has not been consistently scientifically supported in traditional medicine, it is based on centuries of experience. It is used in sports, is prescribed by many doctors because of its multiple effects, and definitely pays dividends to our well-being.

Since massages cannot be patented and sold by a large corporation, studies on their effects with regard to specific diseases and for the purpose of approval as a treatment method are rather unlikely. This inevitably leads to the fact that no healing promises may be given by massages, although there are numerous cases of application, in which humans already made positive experiences with it.

While some medical experts consider massages to be effective treatment methods, there are also critical voices that put this into perspective. According to them, active mobilization is preferable to massages used for symptom treatment. This includes physiotherapy and the development of mobility and musculature to strengthen the body and the region to be treated. In the long term, the more sustainable method to correct and prevent malpositions and incorrect movement patterns, according to some experts.

Are massages healthy?

What remains in summary is that massages have a positive effect on physical well-being. They relax, loosen up and thus support your own mobility. In the case of specific illnesses, you should always consult a doctor's expertise to clarify whether a massage is an option for treatment. To undergo a regular massage is also a question of self-esteem. Does one want to do something good for oneself? Does one specifically schedule time for relaxation and recuperation for oneself? The positive effects of a massage are perhaps so difficult to summarize on a package insert precisely because they take this holistic approach to well-being.

Cover image by Nik Shuliahin. Additional image by Mitchell Griest