Massage in the Media

How Massage Helps Heal Sore Muscles

After a vigorous workout massage unquestionably feels good.  It also seems to reduce pain and help muscle to recover.  Athletes and health professionals have long contended massage eases inflammation, improves blood flow and reduces muscle tightness.  Until now no one has understood why massage has this beneficial effect on the body.
Now researchers have found what happens to muscles when a massage therapist goes to work.  The experiment required having people exercise to exhaustion and undergo five incisions in there legs in order to obtain muscle tissue for analysis.  Despite the hurdles, the scientists managed to find 11 brave young male volunteers. The study was published in the Feb.1 issue of Science Translational Medicine.

The New York Times, New York, New York Feb.5 2012