Muscle Massage Benefits of Massage Therapy by Todd D. Saunders In past columns, I've covered how specific muscle massage affects your golf swing. Golf is only one activity that causes muscle restriction that benefits from massage therapy. Massage therapy has many other benefits, ranging from stress reduction to total well-being. How many of the following benefits of massage therapy would help you? ¥ dilates the blood vessels, improving circulation and relieving congestion throughout the body; ¥ increases the number of red cells,especially in cases of anemia; ¥ acts as a "mechanical cleanser," stimulating lymph circulation and hastening the elimination of wastes and toxic debris; ¥ relaxes muscle spasms and relieves tension; ¥ increases blood supply and nutrition to muscles without adding to their load of lactic acid, produced through voluntary muscle contraction and helps prevent build-up of harmful "fatigue" products resulting from strenuous exercise or injury; ¥ improves muscle tone and helps prevent or delay muscular contraction in persons who are forced to remain inactive, thereby helping to return venous blood to the heart and easing strain; ¥ can have a sedative or stimulating effect on the nervous system, depending on the type of treatment given; ¥ increases nutrition to the tissues by improving general circulation; ¥ may burst the fat capsule in subcutaneous tissue so the fat exudes and becomes absorbed (according to many authorities) &endash; in this way, massage can be an aid to dieting, when combined with a nutritious but calorie efficient diet; ¥ increases the excretion (via the kidneys) of fluid and waste products of protein metabolism, ignoring phosphorous and salt; ¥ encourages the retention of nitrogen, phosphorous, and sulphur necessary for tissue repair in persons recovering from bone fracture; ¥ stretches connective tissue, improving its circulation and nutrition necessary and so breaks down or prevents the formation of adhesions and reduces the danger of fibrosis; ¥ improves the circulation and nutrition of joints and hastens the elimination of harmful deposits; ¥ lessens inflammation and swelling of the joints and relieves pain; ¥ helps to reduce edema of the extremities and fluid retention in the hands and feet; ¥ disperses the edema following injury to ligaments and tendons, lessens the pain and facilitates movement; ¥ MAKES ONE FEEL MARVELOUS! For questions regarding massage therapy/golf flexibility exercises, contact Todd Saunders, B.A., L.M.T. at Advanced Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (AOSPT), 561-478-2322 or at balanceinfo@sportsbalance.com