Mechanical Massage

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Mechanical massage can be used in conjunction with other treatments to treat soft tissues in body. There are different types of mechanical massage equipment. Mechanical massage can be used to treat small localised areas or deeper, larger parts of the body. Mechanical massage can often be preferred to manual massage types as it is more impersonal due to using a machine that the touch of hands. Mechanical massage do produce similar effects to manual massage including, increasing circulation, help relaxation and reduce pain. Massage therapists at Physio.co.uk are able to provide a range of mechanical massage services.

Above: mechanical massage from one of our experienced therapists

What is a mechanical massage?

Mechanical massage is the manipulation of soft tissues using machines. Mechanical massage is used to relieve muscular tension, pain, improve circulation and improve skin condition. Many different types of mechanical massage machines produce similar effects to a manual massage treatment. Machines used to massage can vary from small hand held percussions and audio-sonic equipment designed to treat small, localised areas, to large gyratory vibrators used for deeper effects on larger parts of the body.

Customer receiving a shoulder massage while in a relaxed position in Manchester Physio Clinic

What are the different types of mechanical massage?

Gyratory vibrator
Percussion vibrator
Audio-sonic vibrator

At Physio.co.uk we can provide many types of mechanical massage including the gyratory vibrator, percussion vibrator and audio-sonic vibrator.

A Gyratory vibrator massage tool can be used to provide deep manipulation techniques to muscle and soft tissues in the body. The effects of gyratory massage includes, stimulating circulation, increasing lymphatic drainage, producing a local temperature to muscles to aid relaxation and relieve muscle tension. Up, down and circular movements and be created onto the skin similar to the effects of manual treatments such as, effleurage, petrissage and tapotement. Movements, pressure and depths can be altered by changing applicator heads. A massage created by a gyratory vibrator tool provides deep stimulating massage in a short time and can also be used in combination with many manual massage techniques.

The percussion vibrator is an electrical hand held device that is used to massage smaller muscular areas of the body. A percussion vibrator produces an up and down motion on the skin, which is similar to tapotement techniques of manual massage. The tapping effect onto muscular tissue increases redness due to the increase of blood flow. The percussion vibrator has different applicator heads that can increase or decrease the intensity of vibrations. Because of the size of the applicator heads, a percussion vibrator can be effective to treat small muscles such as deltoids, neck muscles and shoulder muscles.

The audio-sonic vibrator is another device that is frequently used in a sports massage. This instrument produces sound wave vibrations through the skin which provides a deep muscular penetration of two to three inches. The sound waves produced by the audio sonic vibrator works well at releasing deep tissue problems.

When can a mechanical massage help?

Mechanical massage is an effective treatment used to help:

Mechanical massage can be used to help reduce and manage acute and chronic pain. Pain caused by poor circulation, tissue damage or tension can be treated with mechanical massage. Mechanical massage helps improve blood circulation and friction of the massage head will raise temperature and therefore relaxing muscles and relieving pain. Mechanical massages can help muscular pain by stimulating the removal of waste products. Mechanical massages can also help increase the metabolic rate in the tissues. The metabolic rate will speed up the exchange of more oxygenated blood and nutrients into the muscles.

Mechanical massage can help assist in the recovery after injury. Mechanical massage will help post injury by stimulation circulation, reducing pain, increasing metabolic rate and providing relaxation. Mechanical massage produces an increase in circulation to an affected area and helps bring nutrients and oxygen to repair tissues. Mechanical massage can help speed up recovery by removing waste products.

Mechanical massage helps release tight muscles by stimulating the blood circulation and increasing temperature. Increased circulation and temperature allows the muscles to relax. Tight muscles can have poor circulation, mechanical massage can stimulate the muscles and produce more blood through an area. The increase in circulation and friction of the massage head increases the temperature of the soft tissues and promotes relaxation.

Customer receiving a foot massage while in a relaxed position

What are the physiological effects of a mechanical massage?

During a mechanical massage there are many physiological effects. The physiological effects of a mechanical massage include:

The use of mechanical massage produces many physiological effects on the body. A mechanical massage will stimulate the blood circulation, increase lymphatic drainage and remove waste products.

The main physiological effect of a mechanical massage is the stimulation of blood circulation. The movements of a mechanical massage speeds up the flow of blood in the veins, removing deoxygenated blood. Increased blood supply through the veins also will increase the metabolic rate in the tissues. The metabolic rate is the rate of energy expenditure within the tissues. Blood increases the rate of metabolism and improves tissue condition. Increased blood also increase the temperature of an area and therefore aid muscle relaxation and relieve pain.

Mechanical massage can also stimulate the lymphatic system in body. The stimulation of movement from a mechanical massage helps produce the flow of lymph around the body. The lymphatic system is responsible of the drainage of waste products and toxins and is important in maintaining healthy. The lymphatic system does not have a pump therefore relies on manual or mechanical massage to transports lymph around the body. Mechanical massage encourages the drainage of waste products and toxins via the lymphatic vessels and out of the body.

Removing waste products out of the body is also a physiological effect of mechanical massage. Waste products accumulate in tissues and muscles which can build up and cause pain. Waste products in the body can be produced with exercise, food or illness. Mechanical massage can help drain out waste products and encourage fresh oxygenated blood to an area. The reduction of waste products will improve the condition of tissues and create healthy muscles.

What are the benefits of a mechanical massage?

Mechanical massage has many benefits. The benefits of a mechanical massage include:

There are many benefits of receiving a mechanical massage. The benefits of mechanical massage are improved circulation, reduced muscle tension, reduced pain and increased skin tone.

Mechanical massage can help to improve circulation around the body. Poor circulation can lead to fatigue, illness and muscle ache. Mechanical massage stimulates the blood circulation by vibration and movement from specific techniques. The touch of massage against the skin creates friction and increases the number of capillaries and widens blood vessels. Improving circulation around the body can be important to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system.

Mechanical massage can be beneficial in reducing muscular tension. The rhythmical action of mechanical massage stimulates the muscle fibres. By stimulating muscle fibres it creates more movement in between then and relaxes the muscle. Reducing tension in the muscle is important to reduce pain and prevent muscle spasm.

A mechanical massage can also help increase lymphatic drainage in the body. The simultaneous vibration and percussion movement increase the lymph flow in the body. Stimulating the lymphatic system is important to drain out waste products and toxins from the body. Pain in muscles is also relieved due to rapid removal of waste products such as lactic acid.

Mechanical massage benefits skin tone. Mechanical massage can help disperse fatty deposits and reduce the appearance of cellulite. The continuation of heavy pressure on the adipose tissue alongside increased circulation can improve the texture of skin.

Summary

Mechanical massage is used on soft tissues in the body. There are many different types of mechanical massage equipment including, gyratory vibrator, percussion vibrator and an audio-sonic vibrator. Mechanical massage can produce similar effects to manual massage including increased circulation, relaxation and reduce pain. There are many benefits to receiving a mechanical massage. The benefits of mechanical massages are improving circulation, reducing tension, increasing the lymphatic system and increasing skin condition. Mechanical massage can often be preferred to manual massage types as it is more impersonal due to using a machine that the touch of hands.

To arrange a mechanical massage at Physio.co.uk please e-mail us at office@physio.co.uk or call us on 0800 033 7800.