Physiological Effects of Massage Flashcards
7 cards from real Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Physiological Effects of Massage flashcards as text
Which physiological mechanism best explains why massage reduces delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)?
Answer: Enhanced lymphatic drainage reducing inflammatory mediators
Massage reduces DOMS primarily by enhancing lymphatic drainage, which helps clear inflammatory mediators like prostaglandins and cytokines from the tissue.
What happens to venous blood flow when effleurage strokes are applied toward the heart?
Answer: It is mechanically assisted, improving return to the heart
Centripetal effleurage mechanically compresses veins and pushes blood toward the heart, assisting venous return and reducing peripheral pooling.
Which neurotransmitter is primarily responsible for the pain-inhibiting effect of massage on the gate control theory of pain?
Answer: Serotonin
Serotonin released during massage activates large-diameter afferent fibers that 'close the gate' at the dorsal horn, inhibiting pain signal transmission.
What is the primary physiological effect of massage on interstitial fluid?
Answer: It moves interstitial fluid into lymphatic capillaries, reducing edema
Massage pressure moves excess interstitial fluid into lymphatic capillaries through their one-way valves, which is why massage effectively reduces non-pitting edema.
How does massage affect the parasympathetic nervous system in a client experiencing chronic stress?
Answer: It activates the parasympathetic branch, promoting rest and recovery
Massage stimulates parasympathetic activity, lowering heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol while promoting the 'rest and digest' state that counters chronic stress.
Which of the following describes the mechanical effect of pétrissage on muscle tissue?
Answer: It compresses and lifts muscle fibers, breaking adhesions and improving circulation
Pétrissage kneads and lifts muscle tissue, mechanically separating fibers, breaking down adhesions, and milking metabolic waste products into local circulation.
What is the effect of sustained ischemic compression on a trigger point?
Answer: It causes reactive hyperemia that flushes the area and releases the contraction knot
Sustained pressure on a trigger point temporarily occludes blood flow, and when released, reactive hyperemia floods the area with oxygenated blood, helping resolve the hyperirritable spot.