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Health

Massotherapy

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Massage - one of the oldest methods of physical impact on the body.

Local reactions that occur under the influence of direct mechanical action on the tissue, to a certain extent, reflect the reflex generalized reaction of the organism. Of particular importance is the appearance in the humoral environment of biologically active substances (histamine, acetylcholine, etc.) that play an active role in stimulating the adaptive-trophic function of the autonomic nervous system. Massage improves trophic processes in the skin, promotes resorption of infiltrates, activates metabolism, increases gas exchange in organs and tissues. Under the influence of massage, blood flow and lymph circulation improve, the tone of the blood and lymph vessels normalizes. They observe an increase in the tone and elasticity of the muscles, an improvement in their contractile function, which increases the muscular efficiency.

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Applied manual and hardware therapeutic massage

There are two types of manual massage - classical and segmental-reflex. With the same disease (depending on clinical features, phase of flow and other factors) in some cases classical massage is effective, in others - segmental.

Classical medical massage is usually used in daily medical practice. The main techniques of classical massage - stroking, rubbing, kneading and vibration.

Superficial stroking has a calming effect on the nervous system, causing muscle relaxation. Deep stroking contributes to the evacuation of metabolic products from tissues, the elimination of stagnant phenomena. Rubbing strengthens the processes of excitation in the nervous system, increases the contractility and elasticity of muscles. Kneading is particularly beneficial for tired muscles by releasing them from accumulated metabolites. Vibration has a profound and diverse influence on the nervous system, in some cases restores extinguished deep reflexes. Depending on the frequency, amplitude and intensity of vibration, you can get the opposite results (increased excitation or inhibition, vasodilation or vasoconstriction). Continuous vibration leads to anesthesia.

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