Massage for your Heart
High Blood Pressure, Poor Circulation and the Benefits of Massage
Relaxation massage has been shown to reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure with regular treatment sessions. Studies have shown that after a massage, the levels of cortisol (stress related hormone) in individuals are reduced. Lowered blood pressure facilitates Stress reduction by reducing one's risk for developing anxiety, depression and hostile feelings. It can control stress hormone levels and possibly lower the risk of having a stroke, heart attack, or kidney failure.
Poor Circulation: Friction created between skin and fingers encourages an improvement in circulation. With improved circulation of blood and lymph flow comes healthier, stronger muscles that are less likely to fatigue and weaken during any type of activity. Massage stimulates an increase in blood flow around muscles within the body. This increase in blood flow helps to rise muscle temperature, which improves the elasticity of muscle fibers allowing an increase in range of movement and decrease in restriction.
Improved circulation through massage can help increase relaxation. Relaxation can be restricted for a variety of reasons. One of the most common reasons for a lack of relaxation is poor posture. This contributes towards an increase in muscle tension and restricts movement. Increasing tissue elasticity and decreasing restriction enables muscle to relax and posture to return to normal.
Increased vasodilation through massage can also help improve circulation. Vasodilation is the process of widening blood vessels and bringing them closer to the skin’s surface.
As smooth muscles’ lining blood vessels relax, blood pressure is reduced, and restriction is decreased. Decreasing blood pressure and restriction, increases the blood traveling through the vessels, which improves circulation as blood is transported around the body at a faster rate.
"A2 Physical Therapy is very professional. What I liked the most is that they are very thorough with their assessments and personalizing exercises/treatment according to my pain/limitations/injuries. I really do feel stronger and feel confident to get even stronger! Everyone has a super positive attitude which helps with motivation. Thank You!"
− A. Mun
"Last Sunday I played full court basketball for the first time in 15 years. I will qualify the contest by saying it happened on a court just out of the back door of an elder care center. The teams consisted of a 7 year old, an d8 year old, a young woman in flip-flops (I played in sandals), a woman who proudly stated she was 55 years old (I retorted with my age of 65), and a couple of other young guys that really played well. I ran the court, I played defense, blocked shots, made shots (missed a lot), got lots of rebounds, and talked a lot of smack while playing with a group of people a lot younger than me. I even made a behind the back-twisting fall-away shot, then fell and tumbled on the court. I jumped up and continued to play, and we played for about 45 minutes.
I attribute my ability to play this game that I love so much again to the excellent training receive from Kristy who is a trainer at A2 Physical Therapy. I have worked out and trained since I was very young. I played high school basketball, baseball, and I ran track. I spent 20 years in the Army with all the training requirements associated with that occupation. I played on community and city leagues, and I have trained with weights for many years. The training program Kristy has devised for me at A2 is rigorous, thorough, diverse, fun, challenging, and focused. She prepares workout plans that are age and fitness level appropriate. My work out now is so much different then it was when I first started. She both trains me individually and as a couple. I run, jump, stretch, lift, balance, squat, push, pull, and every other movement you can imagine. I look forward to going to my workout every time. Kristy is completely in charge of every workout. I am retired, and my training at A2 allows me to fill the need to accomplish something positive every day I work out. I am doing physical activity with ease that I would not have thought I would be able be able to accomplish at the age of 65 such as hiking on Mt Rainer and running 4 days per week. Kristy and A2 have really changed my life…"
− William
"Kristi’s weekly bootcamp has truly gotten me out of my comfort zone. I started attending with my family a few months ago. My first couple of times I was so ore! At times I became discouraged, but I just pushed through! I keep coming every week I am available. There’s no shaming if you must miss a week. You can even have someone go on your behalf if you miss a week. Since starting Kristi’s bootcamp I’ve said yes to other fitness opportunities I would have previously turned down. I now workout EVERYDAY and I’ve lost over 20 lbs since I first started coming. Thanks Kristi and to my family for introducing mw to this awesome bootcamp!"
− Amanda