When we think of a massage we associate it with varying degrees of kneading and pressure that twist and tighten our muscles and eliminate pain; or rhythmic, soft passes to chilled out music and aromas of the sea, which transport us to a state of absolute relaxation. Nirvana.
The truth is that receiving a relaxation or deep tissue massage is something wonderful and healthy for our body for many reasons.
Many people are familiar with the different types of massage: deep tissue, relaxation, Thai, sports or anti-cellulite. But there is another type of massage that perhaps, due to its more therapeutic use on the one hand, or in beauty salons on the other, is less known or less understood. I refer to the MLD or Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage.
An MLD massage consists of a series of smooth, rhythmic, and repetitive movements designed to facilitate the circulation of the surrounding fluid in the subcutaneous connective tissues of the body, which together are part of the lymphatic system.
In simpler terms, our body produces lymph or body fluid in the cellular exchange between tissues. That is, when we feed our tissues, it is done through capillaries that transport the interstitial fluid that blood produces. The surplus of this fluid is what is collected by the system of "pipes" of the lymphatic system.
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
The lymphatic system is part of the circulatory system. It is made up of vessels (ducts) that connect the bone marrow and thymus (primary lymphatic organs) with the lymph nodes, spleen, and lymphoid tissue (secondary lymphatic organs).
These vessels carry lymph, a transparent substance produced by excess fluid that arises from body tissues.
But unlike the blood system that has the "motor" of the heart to circulate blood, the lymphatic system is mobilized thanks to the pressure of smooth and skeletal muscles when we move and generate contractions.
The function of the lymphatic system serves 4 important goals
-Maintains the correct balance of fluids in the body
-Activates the immune system, keeps us healthier
-Collects unprocessed fat in the intestine, cleanses our body
-Controls the level of protein between the tissues of the body, help us to manufacture, regenerate and maintain our tissues, avoiding aging.
Benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage
- Reduces stress, acting on the central nervous system. It is a good complement to relaxation massages for people with a high level of stress.
- Helps to reabsorb liquids, eliminating swelling and waste. Perfect for athletes with a high level of training.
- Reduces pain, eliminating pressure between tissues. Used as a post-surgical treatment in aesthetics, trauma.
- Improves our immune system, stimulating it through the movement of lymph.
- It is a good treatment for the skin, it favors the vascularization of the skin by providing more proteins and eliminates waste. It is ideal as part of an anti-cellulite or rejuvenating treatment.
As you can see, lymphatic massage brings many benefits to our body. It is not only a therapy that must be used when we have a problem, MLD is a magnificent treatment that we can incorporate into our massage routine, providing, as we have already seen numerous benefits. It keeps us stronger by reactivating the immune system and improves our aesthetics by oxygenating our skin and eliminating waste.
Sedentary life, lack of exercise, poor diet and different health problems act directly on this very important system and can cause serious health disorders.
Livebetter Massage has a Manual Lymphatic Drainage programme that helps relieve the health issues described above, improving your quality of life.
You can visit our website at livebettermassage.co.uk or ask us for more information and answer your questions at info@livebettermassage.co.uk
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