effects & therapeutic uses of massage Flashcards
what are the ‘mechanical’ effects of massage?
- movement of lymph, blood, oedema (swelling)
- mobilisation of muscle fibres, muscle belly, tendons, scar tissue, tissue layers etc
in response to massage, what happens to the flow of lymph and blood in the body?
- there is an increase in blood and lymph flow
-blood vessels dilate
-removal of metabolic waste products
what is diffusion?
fluid flows down the conc gradient from high pressure to low pressure
what is osmosis?
water flows up gradient from less concentrated to higher concentrated
what are the 3 main phases of the healing process ?
- acute inflammatory phase
-proliferative phase
-remodelling phase
what does the acute inflammatory phase involve?
- immediate vasoconstriction of BV’s to reduce blood loss
- then vasodilation to recruit blood cells
-phagocytosis occurs - for 72 hours - there is heat, swelling and redness
-tissue sensitivity - protective mechanisms
what does the proliferative phase of the healing process involve?
- fibroblasts are recruited (note fibroblasts secrete collagen)
- collagen formation producing granulation and scar tissue to replace the damaged tissue
- can take 48 hours - 6 weeks
what does the remodelling stage of the healing process involve?
- contraction of scar
-tensile strength of collagen increases - starts at the end of the second week and can last for up to 1 year
what are the 4 basic types of connective tissue?
- connective tissue proper
-cartilage
-bone
-blood
what is the main supportive protein of connective tissue?
collagen
what can happen to connective tissue as a result of being immobilised in shortened position or only being moved through limited ROM?
it can become shortened
what needs to occur in order to return the soft tissue to original length?
-it needs to be stretched
- should be stretched when it is at its most extensible - eg once heated
what is tensile strength of soft tissue?
the ability of the soft tissue to withstand a pulling force along its length or resistance to tear
what is muscle tone?
the amount of tension (force produced0 in our muscles
in response to certain massages eg effleurage, should our muscle tone be increased or reduced?
it should be reduced
what is an example of a massage technique that may cause an increase in muscle tone?
tapotement
In what ways does massage cause local analgesia (pain relief)?
- fluid exchange between cells increases and circulation improves
-decrease in fluid pressure in nerve endings
-increase in soft tissue extensibility
-decrease in muscle spasm
what is the pain gate theory?
-this is a theory that suggests that the central nervous system has a neurological gate that controls pain signals to the brain
- the gate is the different fibre types
what kind of nerve fibre do noxious stimuli eg hot flame, cut, puncture travel in?
small peripheral nerve fibres
what role do the small peripheral nerve fibres play in the gate theory of pain mechanism?
- the small fibres inhibit the inhibitory fibres, which allows pain information to travel to the brain
- ie they allow pain perception
what role do the large peripheral nerve fibres play in the gate theory of pain mech?
-the large peripheral nerve fibres excite the inhibitory neuron, which diminishes the pain transmission to the brain and less pain is perceived
what kind of stimuli do the large peripheral nerve fibres carry ?
distractive stimuli - rubbing, massaging, application of heat etc
in terms of the immune system, what can high intensity exercise lead to?
- temporary immunosuppression
why does temporary immunosuppression occur after high intensity exercise?
- there is reduced IgA - which increases the chance of infection
how can massage help with the temporary immunosuppression after intense exercise?
- massage can facilitate the recovery of IgA
-decreases the presence of pro-inflammatory mediators generated by high intensity exercise
what psychological effects does massage have?
- relaxation
-relief of anxiety, stress and tension - by increasing levels of serotonin and dopamine
-analgesia - a decrease in anxiety may be better able to cope with pain
-increase in general well being