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

Massage dilates the blood vessels, thus improving 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 wastes and toxic debris.

Massage increases the blood supply and nutrition to muscles without adding to their load of toxic lactic acid, produced through voluntary muscle contractions. 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 least in part, for lack of exercise and muscular contractions 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 capsules in the subcutaneous so that the fat exudes and becomes absorbed. In this way, massage combined with a nutritious but calorie-deficient diet can be an aid in reducing.

Massage increases the general circulation and nutrition to the tissues. It is accompanied or followed by an increased interchanged of substances between the blood and the tissue cells heightening tissue metabolism.

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

Massage encourages the retention of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur necessary for tissue in persons convalescing from bone fractures.

Massage stretches connective tissues, improves its circulation and nutrition and so brakes 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, lessens pain, tissue damage and helps facilitates movement.