Massage and Immunity

Massage and Immunity – Is there a Link?

Massage is all about Wellness: Including strengthening your Immune System. Many health benefits of massage therapy are well known, including increasing range of motion, improving coordination, and reducing stress and anxiety. But many people don’t know that massage for wellness also serves as an important immune system booster.

Massage Therapy strengthens the Immune System by increasing the body’s natural killer cells. It aids in the fight against bacteria and infection, AND naturally enhances the body’s ability to get nourishment to important areas.

As massage increases blood flow it aids in circulation of blood cells too. This means the red cells, that contain oxygen, are circulated through the body helping support the immune system.

Immediate massage benefits may include reduced anxiety (as it supports the endocrine system) while the long-term impact increased serotonin values, natural killer cell numbers and lymphocytes, which work to strengthen the immune system and cognitive function during sickness.

And we all know increased stress leads to decreased immune. So not only are there direct benefits – but also indirect!

Studies have shown the immune link:

People who received a 45-minute massage had an increased number of lymphocytes, which are white blood cells that play a large role in defending the body from disease, found researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles. This research indicates that massage doesn’t only feel good, it also may be good for you! The massage brought other physical changes, too. Afterwards, participants had lower levels of cytokines, which are molecules that play a role in inflammation. Chronically high levels of inflammation are known to be associated with conditions such as asthma, cardiovascular disease and depression just to mention a few.
The massages also had an impact on participants’ hormone levels. Receiving a massage decreased levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, and vasopressin, a hormone believed to play a role in aggressive behaviour, according to the researchers.

Another study states:

Massage therapy has a beneficial effect on the immune system, according to new research—and “there are sustained cumulative biologic actions for the massage and touch interventions that persist for several days or a week, and these differ profoundly depending on the dosage (frequency) of sessions,” investigators noted.

This study gathered preliminary data about the biologic effects of repeated Swedish massage therapy compared to a light-touch control condition on healthy, young adults, according to an abstract published on www.pubmed.gov.

So it is not an indulgence – it is about preventative health care!

Massage increases range of movement of joints, increases flexibility, reduces the effects of stress and anxiety, improves circulation, increases production of both white and red blood cells, raises body awareness and encourages the mind to slooowww down. Now studies have proven what we therapists have known for a long time – it also improves immunity……!

Please note – It is a contraindication to have a massage when you have a fever. It is fine at first sign of illness and for recovery if you haven’t had regular massages to prevent illness, but avoid at peak of fever.