Science of Massage & Energywork
Dear friends. Over the span of thirty-two years that I worked
in the massage-therapy field, I’ve performed myself and
have seen many of my colleges performing many different types
of massage with the wide range of results. Interestingly, physiological
effect of massage alone, couldn’t explain the obtained results.
There were always additional effects caused by none other than
what we would call now as “energy work”.
The effect of “energy” on body became evident for
me back in my postgraduate days, when the group of my colleges
and I conducted an energy related experiment. Several people had
the amount of arterial blood supply to the extremities measured
two times by an special ultra sound equipment. The first time
after standing still on one spot for ten minutes. The second time
after each of them performed extensive visualizing of vein blood
drainage and arterial blood supply process through their lower
extremities. Surprisingly, the second measurement recorded much
higher blood supply for all the testers despite the fact that
none of them have moved.( as you know when we staying steel blood
supply to the extremity significant decrease)
Effects of “energy work” are unavoidable in performing
massage, thus practitioners have to be prepared to channel it
properly. Without practical understanding of what’s involved
in “energy work” many practitioners might inadvertently
hurt their patients and themselves.
Because “energy work” is so practically important
I decided to start my book The Simple approach to Sports and Medical
Massage from the chapter Science of Massage & Energy Work.
Mysteries and metaphysics surrounds energy issue; different esoteric
theories have been built around this subject. My purpose here
is not to create another theory and or break down the dependency
between “mind and matter” to the Quantum Mechanics
level. My purpose is to share my practical experience in “energy
work” and to give a munual therapy practitioners a practical
tool that will help him/her to deal with “energy work”
in their daily practice. This method relies not on quantum mechanics,
but on the knowledge of basic anatomy, physiology and physics.
Below I will summarize these necessary facts in the light of their
connection to massage in order use them as reference for further
discussion of “energy work” process. This time I will
exclude classic academic approach of “gross anatomy and
physiology”. Because of practical need of today discussion
I am offering practical approach to the science. In other words
exted to referring to anatomical names of body parts I will offer
you the structure anatomy and practical physiology approach.
Anatomy and Physiology of Cardiovascular
System
The cardiovascular system consists of heart, arteries, arterioles,
capillary networks, venules, and veins. Blood itself is also an
anatomical part of the cardiovascular system. The human heart
is a very energetic-p fishotential muscle. The fact is that for
an average of about 80 years, without taking a break, the heart
performs a pumping action approximately 80 times per minute. Blood
is pumped out of the heart through the arterial blood vessels
(those that carry blood away from the heart), towards the periphery
under pressure, so even structures such as the brain, which are
topographically located above heart, will get blood supply. Normal
blood pressure is considered 120/80. The duty of blood supply
is firstly to deliver oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to all 55
trillions cells in the body, which compose our different tissues.
Arterial Blood Flow
Arterial blood distribution first goes through arteries, then
arterioles, and then thru the huge network of capillaries - tiny
blood vessels, some so small that they will only allow the passage
of one red blood cell at a time. It is on this microscopic level
of vessels where the basic metabolism - the gas exchange, occurs.
The surrounding cells consume everything they need (oxygen, nutrients,
etc.) from the capillary blood supply. When this exchange of material
happens, the arterial blood is spent of its supplies and will
be given up to the venous blood circulation.
Venous Blood Flow
Venous blood flows toward the heart slower than arterial blood
flows, and is under less pressure. As venous circulation works
its way toward the heart, it will be cleaned passing thru the
liver and kidneys, allowing metabolic waste products to be removed
from the body. It will then flow thru the lungs, satiate with
oxygen, and will be ready to repeat the circulation cycle again
and again, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Venous blood drainage is supported mechanically by muscular contraction,
which occurs whenever we move. All the way throughout the venous
circulation there are valves located on the interior of the vessels.
Valves open only when blood flows towards the heart. Rhythmic
contraction of the muscles supports venous blood drainage. During
massage, we activate a similar mechanical action by performing
squeezing techniques only towards the heart, in the direction
of venous blood flow. Thus, we mechanically accelerate the flow
of venous blood drainage significantly and substantially increase
local arterial blood supply to the tissue. This movement goes
against the flow of arterial blood, but its influence can’t
disrupt arterial blood flow as it is under the superior pressure.
The acceleration of venous blood drainage described above belongs
to one of the factors of the physiological effect of massage:
direct, local mechanical factor. The second factor is an indirect
effect, achieved through the nervous system pathways, and is not
limited to the local area being massaged. Neuro-reflexive aspect
is the main power of massage therapy.
Structural Anatomy of the Central Nervous
System
The central nervous system is composed of the spinal cord and
the brain. Much processing of afferent perception information
and efferent responses happen in both upper and lower centers.
The peripheral nervous system originates from the spinal cord
and provides innervation to inner organs and systems, to the somatic
parts, such as skin, connective tissue, muscles, etc. At the very
endings of the peripheral nervous system, there are proprioreceptors
located in skin, muscles, connective tissues, etc, that respond
to touch, pressure, temperature, vibration, pain, etc.
The moment you touch proprioreceptors, you cause generation of
action potentials (afferent impulses), which will stream and stimulate
the central nervous system including motor, vasomotor, and other
centers. Due to this stimulation, organs and systems of our body
reflect by vasodilation, increased blood supply, relaxation of
muscles, etc. This is what reflexive therapy is. Reflex is the
body’s involuntary reaction to an original stimulus.
In the case of reflexive therapy, this reaction is expressed by
the above-mentioned positive changes in functions of organs and
systems, which will include reduction of left atria work due to
vasodilation. Please keep in mind that stress causes vessels to
constrict (arteries carry enough smooth muscles and nerves to
constrict).
Peripheral vascular constriction amplifies peripheral vascular
resistance., Peripheral vascular resistance is a main opposition
to the left atria work ( left part of the hard responsible for
ejection of arterial blood to the circulatory system). Increased
peripheral vascular resistance immediately responds by increasing,
left atria work in order to overcome such resistance.
Significant increase of cardio work can lead to stress-related
heart attacks, and can accelerate the development of arteriosclerosis.
In order to achieve reflexive therapy results, massage therapist
must perform massage in the inhibitory regime.
Inhibitory Regime
Every nerve receptor has its own level of adaptation - its ability
to produce electrical activities, also known as impulse or action
potential. To work in the inhibitory regime means to keep massage
manipulation in a rhythm of 70-80 movements per minute while gradually
increasing pressure and minimizing disconnection. Consequently,
receptors will not increasing production of action potential,
but the flow of afferent neural impulses from the contact area
of our hands will continue.
The motor and vasomotor centers include pain-analyzing systems,
responding to this kind of stimulation by vasodilation, muscular
relaxation and other positive changes in functions of organs and
systems do to re-polarization of the neurons. This approach aims
at reducing the sympathetic tone and restoring balance in activities,
between the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic
nervous system.
The status of these systems functioning in balance is one of ultimate
health. To bring about this balance is the bottom line goal of
stress management massage therapy.
The philosophy and ultimate goal of Chinese medicine treatments
is to balance the activities of yin and yang (active and passive
energy). Disorders are most often defined as stagnations, or blocks
of chi flow. In my opinion there is a direct correlation between
the conventional explanation of the mechanism of massage and the
oriental medicine explanation. The electrical stream that we create
via massage, causing flow- distribution of the chi- energy, what
in turn leads to balance of sympathetic and parasympathetic activities;
balance of yin and yang.
Phenomenon of Piezoelectricity
The piezoelectric phenomenon is described as the ability of both
inorganic and organic substances to generate electrical potential
in response to purely mechanical deformation. During the performance
of massage therapy, we are deforming the tissues, cells, and molecules
thereby generating/creating piezoelectric charges. In massage,
the main cause of piezoelectric phenomenon is the deformation
of collagen molecules (elastin and keratin also carry piezoelectric
properties). As we know, molecules are surrounded by large amounts
of extra-cellular fluid (at least 70-75% of our body is water).
By performing massage we not only generate electrical impulses
that travel thru peripheral nerves, which in term make their way
to the central nervous system, but also generate piezoelectric
charges of electricity. These piezoelectric streams move out in
all directions, thru extra-cellular fluid and other molecular
structures, creating streaming potentials that travel to the inner
organs and there create massive additional afferent impulses.
These afferent impulses from inner organs in turn further stimulate
centers within the central nervous system and increase the power
of reflexive therapy (positive changes in function of organs and
system due to original stimulation by massage). This phenomenon
of piezoelectricity also explains much in the mechanisms of acupuncture
and acupressure. I have always believed that the oriental methods
of the treatments are bottom line, reflexive therapy. When performing
massage techniques, especially kneading/petrissage, try to imagine
(to see with your hands what eyes cannot see) the massive phenomenon
of piezoelectricity on top of the action potential formation from
the deformation of proprioreceptors. Whenever we touch the body,
we are causing the creation of these electrical charges. Please
always imagine these energetic streamings and you will heal your
clients much more effectively.
Sense of Touch
A therapist while doing massage cannot observe the aforementioned
facts about anatomy, physiology and the factors of reflexive therapy.
Therefore a massage therapist has to be able to maintain a mental
picture of anatomical and physiological processes based on his/her
preexisting knowledge. This mental picture helps a massage therapist
to be in control of what his/her hands are doing and why are they
doing it. It assists practitioners in developing their sense of
touch.
Sense of touch is ability to sense with our hands what our eyes
cannot see. For instance, when we look at our client, we cannot
see what an anatomical chart of the cardiovascular system would
show us, but we have the ability to imagine the physiology of
the cardiovascular system under our hands. We can develop our
sense of touch to the degree that will allow us to perform energy
work.
Using Sense of Touch for Energy Work
Thought is energy. Thinking, envisioning, imagining, projecting,
are all electrical activities in our brain, and these impulses
create energy fields (electromagnetic fields) around us. These
electromagnetic fields can protect your personal state of energy
from disturbances and will increase the power of all activities
caused by your hands-on massage. Energy work positively influences
our hands-on therapy efforts and allows us to manipulate the energy
of our client(s). By focusing and projecting our understanding
of anatomi and physiological processes transpired in our patient
while we’re doing massage, allows us to increase our powers
of healing to the maximum extent.
Pathology & Energy Work
Our skeleton consists of about 206 bones. Everywhere where two
bones meet they create a joint, held together by ligaments - very
strong, elastic, belt-like, soft connective tissue - which hold
the two bones in place, surrounding and stabilizing the joint.
Cartilage covering the surface areas of the ends of bones where
they come together creating joint- arthra. Cartilage, providing
a smooth, frictionless apparatus to allow the surfaces to articulate
against one another. If this cartilage becomes inflamed, deformed,
or develops fissuring, and/or erosion, this kind of pathology
is called arthritis; inflammation in the joint (-its meaning inflammation).
If a joint region is sprained (pulled), or strained (overloaded),
very possible that tendons - extensions of muscles attaching them
to the bones - can develop inflammation, as well as ligaments,
bursa, muscles, etc. In the case of sport-related injury in the
knee region for example, there may be physical effect such as
contusion, twist, and sprain, strain, which can cause a person
to develop arthritis, periarthritis and more.
For a therapists it is extremely important to understand that
in any case of inflammation, whether it be arthritis, tendonitis,
or bursitis, the _expression of these pathologies will be swelling
of the tissues, excessive volume of extracellular fluid accumulation,
and stasis of venous blood, which disallows arterial blood supply
(oxygen and anti-inflammatory hormones like hydrocortisone). In
the inflamed areas the demand of blood supply, will be increased
much more than the regular blood supply can deliver. Pain is a
signal/message about swelling of the tissue, stasis of venous
blood, which decreases arterial blood supply (oxygen supply),
accumulation of excessive amount of extracellular fluid, and constriction
of muscles.
Bear in mind that all these processes and physical _expression
of pathology in most cases, cannot be seen from the outside.
It is extremely important for the massage therapist to understand
the pathology to the degree that he/she can begin to heal by simply
placing the hands on the region and imagining all the above-mentioned
expressions of pathology. There is no doubt, that if, additional
to energy work that I described before, we will perform techniques
for acceleration of venous blood drainage, edema reduction, trigger
point therapy, etc. then rapid and sustained results can be expected.
To make all of the things mentioned above a little more organized,
I Kahan proposes the following structure in massage therapy approach:
A. Knowledge - this is your memory of the facts, i.e., structural
anatomy and physiology, as well as pathological developments in
cases of disorders.
B. Understanding of Knowledge - this means more than just memorizing
the dry facts about the structure and function of the region,
or the symptoms and signs of a disorder. It refers to your capability
to picture these components living and functioning in the normal
situation and to picture what is occurring in the pathology situation.
C. Knowledge and Visualization. When knowledge and understanding
are combined inside of you (this place could be in your heart,
or your soul, somewhere inside where your sense of touch lives)
it is transported to your hands, with which you perform soft-tissue
mobilization as well as energy work.
A person may have knowledge about _expression of pathologies such
as bursitis, tendonitis, arthritis, etc, but if he/she applies
excessive pressure on the region, we can all agree, his/her understanding
of this knowledge is apparently very limited. By placing our hands
on a sick/injured area and imagining what is going on under our
hands, we are creating active thoughts (energy matter) that, in
addition to all positive physiological effects of massage therapy,
allow us to manipulate chi in such a way that the healing process
will be amplified to the greatest extent possible.
Placebo and Energy Work
Human body has a boundless potential to heal itself. In any double-blind
study, approximately 20-28% of study subjects respond with a great
deal of improvement to the placebo. Mind is ready to accept either
the real medication or other therapy. For example, there are many
documented cases where patients cure themselves of cancer by eating,
or drinking, or doing what they believe the cure is. This means
that the placebo can help a person to activate some mechanism,
(yet undefined by medicine), that has a possibly unlimited power
to heal the body. There might be many other, similar to placebo,
built in mechanisms that can activate the natural power of a human
body to heal itself.
I surmise that this healing power can be activated through our
manipulation of chi, and I also believe that it is some dominantly
psychological aspect, which would allow us to do this. Somehow,
at the time of energy work, our patients own ultimate self-healing
powers are activated, by passing psychological- placebo starter.
The very important for us to understand, that therapist heal the
client, by stimulating the clients power to heal their own self.
Hippocrates said that the nature of the human body is to heal
illness, and the doctor (or anyone involved in health care) should
be a servant to this capability.
Dear fellow therapists. Please view the material I presented in
this article as a puzzle that you have to piece together. Electrical
activities occur in our body 24/7. All organs and systems communicate
with the central nervous system as well as with each other through
electrical impulses and biochemical reactions. Constant movement
of electrical charges in our body induces electromagnetic fields
around us. The task of a massage therapist is to adjust and channel
this energy toward self-healing/stimulation, as well as toward
increasing the power of a massage therapy session.
Why and what precisely is the mechanism of “energy work?”
How exactly it happens that directed flow of our thoughts penetrates
the barrier between the body of the therapist and the patient
and affects positively the electro-magnetic field in the patient
body?
The answer to this question is similar to the answer of why moving
magnetic field indices electrical current – that’s
how our Universe is constructed. We all agree that massage therapy
is about results. As a massage therapist just like an electrical
engineer we can use these phenomena to obtain stable and consistent
results, with or without complete understanding of its microcosmic
nature.
I would highly recommend that you start from practicing self chi
manipulation. Therefore please pull out an anatomical chart and
while you re-read the article try to imagine structural anatomy
and physiology. Focus on stomach area and imagine the clockwise
peristaltic action of the digestive system for a few minutes.
In doing this, you already start manipulation/distribution of
your own energy. As you read the material on physiological effect
of massage, imagine the acceleration of venous blood drainage,
arterial blood supply process, and electric streams. All proposed
techniques for self chi manipulation will help you to stay healthier
and will create your protective electro-magnetic field. At the
time of a hands-on massage imagine all the processes that you
stimulate in your clients body. During your hands-on performance,
combine the imagination of the processes (energy work). Your electro
magnetic fields will not only protect you from energetic influence
of your clients, but will also increase your healer power.
In summary:
Please remember that: what sets therapists apart is the level
of sense of touch. A more developed sense of touch will allow
a therapist to achieve better and faster results do to energy
work.
Sincerely,
Boris Prilutsky, MA
Copyright
© 2000-2006 Institute Of Professional Practical Therapy