Effects of massage on Nervous system

Effects of massage on the Nervous system

Massage and the nervous system, since the nervous system is the bodies main source of control and sensation it would stand to reason that massage would greatly affect the function or dysfunction. Breaking down the nervous system is consist of two main categories the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system is then broken down into sub sections which consist of the autonomic nervous system, cranial nervous system, and the spinal nerves. The cranial and spinal nerves are primarily the control or somatic nerves and the sensory nerves play the major roles.

The autonomic nervous system is then broken down into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. The sensory nerves and their associated receptors provide input to the central nervous system on sensation and proprioception, in other words their location in space and surrounding environmental conditions. The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system is primarily those that are affected by massage. During a relaxation massage the sympathetic is calmed while the parasympathetic is stimulated since the two are opposite in relation to one another. Information from the sensory input is processed in the central nervous system, the appropriate responses are sent out via the motor neurons and various other pathways such as the somatic and autonomic in order to maintain that equilibrium called homeostasis.

The nervous system can be stimulated or soothed based on the strokes that are applied to the body. Stimulation applied to the peripheral nerve receptors can have a reflex reaction affecting the neurotransmitters in the brain, the pain perception, or joints and muscles that are being massaged.

Stimulating massage strokes: