Massage Therapy

What are the key benefits of massage therapy?

• Physical: Massage therapy is designed to stretch and loosen muscles, improve blood flow and the movement of lymph throughout the body, facilitate the removal of metabolic wastes resulting from exercise or inactivity, and increase the flow of oxygen and nutrients to cells and tissue. In addition, massage stimulates the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkiller, into the brain and nervous system.
• Mental: Massage therapy provides a relaxed state of alertness, reduces mental stress and enhances capacity for calm thinking and creativity.
• Emotional: Massage therapy satisfies the need for caring and nurturing touch, creates a feeling of well-being and reduces anxiety levels.

What are the other benefits of therapeutic massage therapy?

• Relaxes muscle spasms, and relieves tension
• Alleviates pain
• Reduces stress symptoms physically, mentally and physiologically (chemically)
• Increases nutrition to the soft tissue through the blood supply without adding to the load of lactic acid that is produced by voluntary muscle contraction
• Improves blood and lymph flow.
• Causes the release of endorphins, creating a decrease in pain and a feeling of well-being
• Disperses the edema following injury to ligaments and tendons. It can also lessen pain and facilitate movement
• Improves the circulation and nutrition of joints, and hastens the elimination of harmful products
• Is effective in the relief and control of tension headaches
• Stretches connective tissue, relieving the pain and symptoms of fibromyalgia
• Enhances the body's ability to digest and eliminate food
• Transverse massage separates muscle fibers and connective tissue, thereby undoing or preventing the formation of scar tissue
• Therapeutic massage improves muscle tone, and helps delay muscle atrophy caused by inactivity
• Helps reduce edema swelling of the extremities
• Can compensate, at least in part, for the lack of muscle contraction and exercise in persons who are forced to remain inactive due to illness or injury. In these cases, massage can help return venous blood to the heart, and so ease the strain on this vital organ.
• Increases excretion (via kidneys) of fluids, and nitrogen, inorganic phosphorous and salt in normal individuals.

Massage therapy is available to all Spaceport employees. Call Valerie today to setup your appointment!

Office hours: Tuesday - Friday from 10 a.m - 4 p.m. (hours are flexible per appointment)
Price: $1.00 per minute - Gift certificates are available.

For more information on massage therapy please visit the Amercian Massage Therapy Association web site.