Benefits and Effects of Massage Flashcards
6 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 6 Benefits and Effects of Massage flashcards as text
A client receiving massage for general relaxation experiences a significant reduction in stress. This response is primarily due to the stimulation of which part of the nervous system?
Answer: Parasympathetic nervous system
Massage therapy promotes relaxation by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the 'rest and digest' response. This activation helps lower heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and decrease the production of stress hormones like cortisol.
According to the gate control theory of pain, how does massage help alleviate a client's chronic lower back pain?
Answer: By stimulating large-diameter nerve fibers to block pain signals sent by smaller fibers
The gate control theory of pain suggests that non-painful stimuli can 'close the gate' to painful stimuli. Massage stimulates large, fast A-beta nerve fibers, which carry touch and pressure sensations. These signals travel to the spinal cord faster than the pain signals from smaller A-delta and C fibers, effectively blocking the pain signals from reaching the brain.
A therapist applies friction and petrissage to a client's quadriceps, and the area becomes red and warm to the touch. What is the correct physiological term for this localized increase in blood flow?
Answer: Hyperemia
Hyperemia is the term for an excess of blood in the vessels supplying an organ or other part of the body. During massage, mechanical and reflexive actions cause vasodilation (widening of blood vessels), leading to a temporary, localized increase in blood flow, which manifests as redness (erythema) and warmth.
Which of the following describes a primarily mechanical effect of massage therapy?
Answer: Reduction of fascial adhesions
A mechanical effect is a direct result of the physical forces of massage, such as compression, stretching, and friction. Reducing fascial adhesions is achieved by physically manipulating and separating adhered connective tissues. Decreased cortisol, increased serotonin, and lowered heart rate are reflexive effects, mediated by the nervous and endocrine systems in response to the massage.
A client reports feeling less anxious and having an improved mood after a series of massage sessions. This psychological benefit is most directly linked to which biochemical change?
Answer: A decrease in cortisol and an increase in serotonin
Research consistently shows that massage therapy can decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol while increasing levels of neurotransmitters associated with mood regulation and happiness, such as serotonin and dopamine.
When performing manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) on a client, what is the primary intended physiological effect?
Answer: To stimulate the movement of interstitial fluid into lymphatic capillaries
The primary goal of Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is to use gentle, rhythmic strokes to stimulate the lymphatic system. This encourages the movement of excess interstitial fluid (lymph) into the initial lymphatic vessels and helps propel it through the system, which is particularly beneficial for reducing edema.