Daytona Massage NewAgeTouch » autonomic

Effects of Massage on Autonomic Nervous System

greg — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:21:00 +0000

Massage on the autonomic system sounds funky, yet we can influence our breathing by exercise or meditation. So with continuous strokes long an flowing you could quite or stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. Then by adding stimulating strokes such as percussion, vibration and friction you can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is the bodies way of protection against danger or the sense of danger. It is also the bodies way of cooping with extreme stress or an emergency this condition is called “fight-or-flight”. Activation of this system is the bodies way of dealing with stress real or perceived and will increase heart rate, blood is diverted to muscles, peristalsis is decreased, adrenaline and epinephrine are secreted into the blood stream. The sweat glands are activated and the bodies alert level is heightened.

The parasympathetic system is the exact opposite of the sympathetic system and is used to achieve a balance in the body. So peristalsis is increased, blood pressure is lowered, and pain receptors are ignored or bradykines are reduced in the blood stream. Blood circulation is increased to the internal organs which speeds digestion. All of the parasympathetic systems are calming and soothing and massage techniques are flowing light touch strokes.

The two counteract on each other letting the body achieve a natural balance from the negative feedback loop creating homeostasis. Initially massage will stimulate the senses but over time will sedate and calm, which is the main reason for massage to be in approximately one (1) hour long lengths. Allowing the initial stimulate to soothe and become relaxation. Allowing relaxation and the reduction of stress and all of the health factors that play into the reduction of stress. Initially this is also why a good chair massage will last approximately fifteen (15) minutes in length allowing the body to get stimulated and be refreshed but more alert in nature.

Effects of massage on the Nervous system

greg — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:56:23 +0000

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:

Friction
Percussion
Vibration

Sedative massage strokes:

effleurage
light friction and petrissage
holding pressure (compression)

Nervous System Autonomic Nervous System

greg — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:00:57 +0000

What is the Autonomic Nervous System? Well short story it is made up of motor neurons that conduct impulses from the spinal cord or brain stem to the cardiac muscle tissues, smooth muscle tissue and glandular epithelial tissue of the body. There are two major categories of the Autonomic nervous system which massage therapists should know well. They are the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system reactions of the body, because we are talking about the ANS I should state that they can be influenced but not directly controlled by conscious thought from the brain.

Motor neurons or nerves that control voluntary actions of the skeletal muscle system is called the somatic nervous system not to be confused with the Autonomic Nervous system which is involuntary. Motor neurons that make up the Autonomic Nervous system (ANS) are called autonomic neurons. These neurons converge in “Junction Boxes” which are called ganglia. Preganglionic neurons are Autonomic neurons that conduct impulses from the ganglion to cardiac muscle, smooth muscle and epithelial tissue.

Autonomic also known as visceral effectors, are tissues in which automonic neurons conduct impulses throughout the body. Visceral Autonomic effectors, which are cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, and glandular epithelial tissue and very interweave throughout the ventral cavity of the body.

Parasympathetic Nervous system also known as craniosacral system can slow the heartbeat and increase peristalsis and secretion of digestive juices and insulin in the body. Peristalsis is the digestives way of moving food along the digestive tract which is will go more in depth in a different article by contractions in the various organs of the digestive system.