New research from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) has confirmed the scientific benefits of massage. It has been proven to improve vascular function in people who don't exercise. This suggests that everyone reaps the benefits of massage, regardless of how much exercise they do. It can definitely help muscle recovery in endurance sports, allowing the athlete to return to training faster.
The same principles apply to foam laminate. Because massage therapy has many purported benefits, research has been or is being conducted on a wide range of patients with a variety of conditions. Most of the research to date has included small preliminary studies that lack the methodological quality to draw firm conclusions about the effectiveness of massage therapy. Users report that massage improves overall health, decision-making skills, improves work performance, and increases energy and concentration.
It also improves memory and blood circulation in the body. The latest research has shown (at the cellular level) that massage therapy helps the body heal. Even after a session, the body begins to respond to massage therapy. Researchers did blood and muscle tests on people before and after vigorous training; one group received massage therapy after exercise and the other did not.
The results of the “after massage” surprised the researchers. Post-massage blood and muscle tissue showed an increase in a gene responsible for mitochondria development. Mitochondria are known for cell growth and energy production. Lifting and kneading muscle tissue (common Swedish and deep tissue technique) was also shown to “turn off” genes associated with inflammation.
The research also contradicted a long-believed idea that massage therapy expels lactic acid from muscles.