When it comes to the physiological responses to massage and the mechanisms of action on the body, significant decreases in physiological markers of stress such as salivary cortisol and heart rate have been found across many studies. Increased blood pressure is correlated with the sympathetic nervous system (the fight or flight response) and has been shown in multiple studies to decrease after only a single massage treatment . Along with decreases in cortisol levels, increases in happy brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine have been shown to increase significantly.

Massage therapy also has an effect on the psychological side of a human being. After all, any interaction with our environment or those around us can have a positive effect. Among the things that contribute to the benefits of a massage include the positive expectations associated with massage therapy as well as the practitioner’s positive regard, caring manner and comfortable communication and interaction. These are considered as non-specific mechanisms of action when it comes to massage therapy, however this doesn’t mean they’re not important. As a matter of fact, we believe the happier you are with your massage and your therapists’ professionalism and competence, the greater the benefits will be!

Massage and exercise compliment each other in many ways and a Remedial Massage Therapist may be trained in both exercise prescription and corrective exercise. Here at KC Health Services, the combination of massage therapists and personal trainers means that we can develop holistic programs centred on your individual needs. Our personal trainers and massage therapists work very closely with our clients and their chosen Allied Health Professionals (physiotherapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, osteopaths etc.) to ensure that all our programs are working towards the collective goals of our clients in the most effective ways.