Top 10 Scientifically-Backed Questions About Massage Therapy – Answered

Massage therapy is about more than relaxation. Here’s what science has to say about some of the most frequently asked questions on massage, fascia, nervous system health, and recovery.

1. How does massage therapy help relieve pain?

What we usually all hear is that Massage therapy reduces pain by increasing blood flow and decreasing inflammation. The other vastly larger component of massage therapy is its direct influence on pain pathways via the nervous system. Research shows that massage promotes the release of endorphins and serotonin - natural pain relieving chemicals helping you feel better, faster.

You might be thinking, “So what? So do 1,000,000 other things they tell me to do in the health and wellness world.” Here’s where it gets really interesting. Recent research highlights how specific types of sensory nerves called mechanoreceptors play a critical role in massage therapy's effectiveness. These mechanoreceptors including Ruffini endings, Merkel cells, Pacinian corpuscles, and Meissner’s corpuscles are specialized nerve endings in your skin and fascia that respond uniquely to different types of pressure, stretch, and touch.

When a therapist applies specific types of pressure and gentle, intentional touch during massage, these mechanoreceptors send signals directly to your central nervous system, influencing how your brain interprets pain and stress. For example, slow, sustained pressure targets Ruffini endings and Merkel cells, which help your body sense and integrate deeper, calming sensations, enhancing your parasympathetic response (rest and digest). On the other hand, gentle rhythmic movements stimulate Meissner’s corpuscles and Pacinian corpuscles, which rapidly relay information that soothes and recalibrates your nervous system.

In simpler terms: massage doesn't just relax muscles it’s a direct line of communication with your nervous system, rewiring your brain-body connection and helping to recalibrate the way your brain experiences pain. This is why massage therapy, especially techniques designed with a nuanced understanding of the nervous system, can provide profound, long-lasting relief far beyond what most people traditionally expect from standard muscle relaxation.

So when you're receiving a massage, you're not just treating sore muscles you're engaging in a dialogue with your nervous system. This requires deep listening on both the therapists end and the client receiving end to get the full benefits.

2. What exactly is fascia, and why does it matter in massage therapy?

Fascia is a “web like” connective tissue surrounding the muscles, bones, and organs once thought of as a useless packing material. We have since discovered how wrong we were. Fascia is the most vast and intricate organ of the body. It holds tensile strength, helping us move with speed and agility. Everything flows through it. And I mean everything. Lymph, blood, nerves, organs, and muscles. When fascia becomes restricted or dehydrated, it can lead to stiffness, pain, and limit mobility. When this network gets tight and “bound up” so to speak, it can impact other areas of your body. Think about if someone is standing behind you and grabs you by the shirt. The fabric in the front of your torso is pulled back because of the restriction in the back. Now apply that same shirt theory to other areas, when someone grabs your shirt by the chest it starts pulling on your arm. This is a greatly simplified version of the truth but it illustrates the point that fascia when tight in one location has downstream affects to other areas which then get pulled into postural distortions and odd movement patterns. Massage therapy especially fascial release techniques helps hydrate, mobilize, and reorganize fascial tissues, restoring freedom and ease of movement.

3. Can massage really influence my nervous system?

Absolutely, and much more deeply than we typically think. Again, what people typically say is that “Massage therapy positively impacts your autonomic nervous system by helping you “down-shift” from a sympathetic “fight or flight” response to a parasympathetic “rest and digest” state.” This is true and from my personal findings can take anywhere from a few minutes to 20-30 minutes for people to really “drop in” to that parasympathetic response. For people who live in a state of fight, flight or freeze, massage can be a great tool to help regulate the nervous system.

What we don’t think about as much is how humans, in their early years, need what’s called co-regulation with their parents to help soothe them from tumultuous emotions like stress, fear, sadness, pain etc. This co-regulation usually comes from smell, sight and safe touch. Our nervous system is primed for contact right away from our conception. Safe touch is a deeply universal need that in my opinion is vital to mental health and nervous system health - something many adults have unconsciously forgotten or dismissed. As your nervous system receives these signals, it begins to settle, release stress, and rewire itself towards greater resilience and balance.

In other words, massage therapy is not just relaxation. It’s about tapping into your body's built-in capacity for connection, calming your deepest protective instincts, and giving your nervous system exactly the kind of reassurance it has always craved and needed.

4. Does massage therapy aid athletic performance and recovery?

Yes, significantly. What you’ll typically find when you google this question is that “Massage enhances athletic performance by improving circulation, reducing muscle soreness (DOMS), accelerating the removal of metabolic waste, and promoting better muscle recovery. Regular massage helps athletes perform more consistently and recover quicker from intensive training sessions.”

While this is true, let’s get into more of what is actually going on here. As a Registered Massage Therapist (or sports therapist depending on where you’re from), we are assessing you - even while we treat. We are looking at your mobility (ROM), your alignment (postural and movement), your tissue quality (tone, texture, tension, tenderness, inflammation, density etc), and monitoring imbalances and deeper injuries through orthopedic assessment. This assessment methodology gives us a TON of information that you couldn’t look up on a garmen watch or learn from your coach in the gym or on the field. We have the tools (figuratively and literally) to prevent injuries before they develop, to treat injuries when you’ve waited and worked through them too long, and yes this keeps your athletic performance at its peak.

5. Is there a scientifically optimal frequency for massage treatments?

Research suggests regular massage every 2–4 weeks can effectively maintain benefits in reducing pain, stress, and muscular tension. However, elite athletes or those experiencing chronic issues may benefit from more frequent sessions weekly treatments can sustain peak performance and faster recovery. I have seen some people with tissue presentations bad enough that they actually need 2-3x per week.

6. How does massage therapy improve mobility?

Massage improves mobility by breaking down fascial adhesions, reducing muscle tension, and promoting joint lubrication. This increased tissue hydration and reduced muscular guarding translate directly to better range of motion, smoother movement patterns, and greater physical ease.

7. Can massage therapy help manage stress and anxiety from a physiological perspective?

Yes. Massage therapy lowers cortisol (the body's primary stress hormone) and increases serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters associated with mood stabilization and relaxation. Regular sessions reinforce these biochemical shifts, helping to establish a sustained sense of calm and emotional well-being.

8. Is there evidence that massage therapy supports immune function?

Scientific studies show that massage therapy can enhance immune function by increasing lymphatic circulation, reducing stress hormones, and promoting parasympathetic nervous system activity. These effects can improve overall immune resilience, particularly when massage is incorporated consistently into your wellness routine.

9. What’s the difference between deep tissue massage and myofascial release?

Deep tissue massage focuses on deeper muscular layers, breaking up adhesions and muscle knots to relieve tension. Myofascial release specifically targets fascial connective tissue to restore mobility and alignment throughout the body. Both are beneficial. Choosing between them depends on your specific needs and the root cause of your symptoms.

10. Can massage therapy benefit conditions related to poor posture?

Absolutely. Massage therapy, especially targeted bodywork and fascial release, can significantly improve posture-related issues. By releasing tight muscles, rehydrating fascia, and correcting muscular imbalances, massage therapy supports a healthier, more aligned posture—reducing strain and enhancing long-term well-being.

Want to experience the scientifically-proven benefits of massage therapy firsthand?
Reach out or book your session with Blue Mountain Wellness today. Let’s get you moving better, feeling stronger, and recovering smarter.