FOUNTAINS

THE BENEFITS OF MASSAGE

> Massage relaxes muscle contractions and spasms and relieves general body tensions.

> Massage dilates the blood vessels, thus improving the circulation.

> Massage increases the number of red blood cells, especially in cases of anemia.

> Massage acts as a “mechanical cleanser”, pushing along lymphatic fluids and hastening the elimination of waste and toxic debris.

> Massage increases the blood supply and nutrition to muscle without adding to their load of toxic lactic acid, produced through voluntary muscle contraction. Massage thus helps to overcome harmful “fatigue” products resulting from strenuous exercise or injury.

> Massage improves muscle tone and helps prevent or delay muscular atrophy resulting from forced inactivity.

> Massage can compensate, at lease in part, for lack of exercise and muscular contraction in persons who, because of injury, illness or age, are forced to remain inactive. In these cases, massage helps return venous blood to the heart and so eases the strain on this vital organ.

> Massage may have a sedative, stimulating or even exhausting effect on the nervous system depending on the type and length of massage treatment given.

> Transverse massage separates muscle fibers, undoing or preventing the formation of adhesions and trigger points.

> According to some authorities, massage may burst the fat capsule in the subcutaneous so that the fat exudes and become absorbed. In this way, massage combined with a nutritious but calorie deficient diet can be an aid to reducing.

> Massage improves the general circulation and nutrition of tissues. It is accompanied or followed by an increased interchange of substances between the blood and tissue cells heightened tissue metabolism.

> Massage increases the excretion (via the kidneys) of fluids and nitrogen, inorganic phosphorous and salt in normal healthy individuals.

> Massage encourages the retention of nitrogen, phosphorous and sulfur necessary for tissue repair in persons convalescing from bone fractures.

> Massage stretches connective tissues, improves its circulation and nutrition and so breaks down or prevents the formation of adhesions and reduces the danger of fibrosis.

> Massage improves the circulation and nutrition of joints and hastens the elimination of harmful particles. It helps lessen inflammation and swelling in joints and so alleviates pain.

> Massage disperses the edema following injury to ligaments and tendons. It lessens pain and tissue damage and helps facilitate movement.