How Massage Helps Heal Muscles and Relieve Pain
Massage may work as well as drugs like aspirin or Advil in easing pain from intense exercise.
By MAIA SZALAVITZ | @maiasz | February 2, 2012 |
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The word massage alone elicits deep relaxation and stress relief, and now a new study sheds light on how deep touch works to ease pain and promote healing in sore muscles.
Researchers at McMaster University in Canada found that massage affects the activity of certain genes, directly reducing inflammation in muscles — the same result you’d get by taking aspirin or ibuprofen — and boosting their ability to recover from exercise.
The study involved 11 young men who were willing to engage in what the researchers described as “exhaustive aerobic exercise” — the equivalent of an intense spinning class. The men rode stationary bikes to the point of exhaustion.
After the workout, each man received a 10-minute Swedish-style massage on only one leg; the other leg served as the control. They also had biopsies taken from their leg muscles before and after exercise, immediately after massage and then again two and a half hours later.
MORE: Aching Back? Try Massage for Chronic Pain
Researchers found that massage set off a series of molecular events in muscles that helped reverse discomfort related to exercise. Massage dampened the activity of proteins known as inflammatory cytokines, which cause inflammation and pain. It also increased levels of proteins that signal the muscles to produce more mitochondria, the cell structures that produce energy and help muscles recover from activity.
Tiffany Field, a leading researcher on the effects of massage and director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami Medical School, says she found the results “very believable.” She was not associated with the new research. (Field notes that her group is planning to study the effect of massage on some of the same inflammatory cytokines in HIV-positive pregnant women.)
Massage basically has the same pain-relieving effect as drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve), says Field. Known as NSAIDS, for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, these medications work by reducing levels of substances called prostaglandins that increase levels of inflammatory cytokines. “By reducing the inflammation — or the pro-inflammatory cytokines, to be specific — you would reduce pain,” says Field.
Mainstream medicine has often dismissed massage as a bona fide therapy, but “these findings will have an impact on traditional medicine, as every ‘beneath-the-skin’ finding helps,” says Field.
The study was published in Science Translational Medicine.
MORE: The Lab Rat Gets Petted: How Massage Works
Maia Szalavitz is a health writer for TIME.com. Find her on Twitter at @maiasz. You can also continue the discussion on TIME Healthland’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIMEHealthland.
Read other related stories about this:
Study Works Out Kinks in Understanding of Massage The Los Angeles Times
Massage May Help Sore Muscles Recover WebMD
Massage After Exercise Tamps Down Inflammation That Causes Aches Bloomberg
Related Topics: massage, Medicine, Pain
Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2012/02/02/how-massage-helps-heal-muscles-and-relieve-pain/#ixzz1lLmzuVZK
Showing posts with label Retail Therapy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Retail Therapy. Show all posts
Friday, 3 February 2012
men are better food shoppers!
Sorry ladies, but men are better food shoppers! Study reveals women get more flustered and stressed in supermarkets
By MAYSA RAWI
Last updated at 4:41 PM on 3rd February 2012
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Women are meant to be the experts at shopping - but new research reveals the whole experience leaves them flustered and stressed.
The surprise findings emerged in a study of 2,000 people and shows that not all women get ‘retail therapy’ from a spot of shopping.
In fact, in a supermarket environment, one third of females get themselves into a complete flap when they do the weekly shop.
Despite being organised shoppers, women dislike crowds, feel rushed at the checkout and are always shocked at the price of their purchases
And this is despite being organised and armed with shopping lists, money off-coupons, tissues, vouchers and recycled carrier bags.
In contrast, three quarters of men quite enjoy their food shopping experience and are happy to navigate their way around the aisles searching out products.
Men are less forgetful about what they want to buy, are less likely to feel rushed by the cashiers and are more methodical at the checkouts.
Helen Nunn, Head of Marketing at The Co-operative Food which commissioned the research, said: 'We suspect one of the key reasons why women are more agitated in the supermarket is largely because they are rushing round trying to conduct the shopping as quickly as possible.
'Doing the food shop will be one item on a massive list of jobs, and something which simply has to be done at speed.
Men are less forgetful about what they want to buy, are less likely to feel rushed by the cashiers and are more methodical at the checkouts
'Men seem to adopt a much more laid back and methodical approach, taking their time looking for bargains and make sure they’re getting the most for their money.'
The survey shows two thirds of females dislike battling the crowds in the supermarket to get at what they want.
And 34 per cent hate it when other people’s children get in their way.
One in 10 women even admitted to having an argument with another shopper in the supermarket - either because of trolley rage, fighting over the same item or queue jumping.
Four in 10 women can’t stand feeling rushed when the cashier scans items too quickly so they struggle to get everything into the right bags.
And 35 per cent claim they are shocked every time they reach the till and realise how much they have spent.
But the poll suggests women are the savvier shoppers - as they are less baffled by all the different brands in the shop and are more likely to ask for help if needed.
As a consequence, eight in 10 women always come home armed with bargains compared to 67 per cent of men.
TOP SUPERMARKET STRESS-TRIGGERS
Having to battle the crowds to reach products
Struggle to pack bags quickly enough
Getting to the end of the supermarket and realising something is forgotten
Shocked to discover how much everything has added up to
Can’t stand other people’s children
Feel rushed by cashiers as they scan the food too quickly
Spend hours hunting for the most basic items
End up squashing all the soft items with the heavy ones I the shopping trolley
Having to shop on a Saturday
Can’t fit everything into the trolley
And whereas 51 per cent of men are most likely to opt for brands they know the best, 26 per cent of women will simply buy anything which appears on offer.
But men are happy to use technology to get what they want in the supermarket - being more likely to whip out their mobile phone to compare prices or download vouchers as they shop.
Helen Nunn, for The Co-operative Food added: 'Both men and women are consciously becoming savvier shoppers because of the current economic climate, but it’s clear from these findings that they’re using different approaches to net their bargains.
'This study suggests men have more time to stroll around and use their mobile to check out deals and compare prices online, and that’s resulting in a new breed of male supermarket shoppers.
'However, our focus on Big Deals within Easy Reach makes it easy for everyone to pick up a bargain.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2095969/Study-reveals-women-flustered-stressed-supermarkets.html#ixzz1lLbP5Vms
By MAYSA RAWI
Last updated at 4:41 PM on 3rd February 2012
Comments (11)
Share
Women are meant to be the experts at shopping - but new research reveals the whole experience leaves them flustered and stressed.
The surprise findings emerged in a study of 2,000 people and shows that not all women get ‘retail therapy’ from a spot of shopping.
In fact, in a supermarket environment, one third of females get themselves into a complete flap when they do the weekly shop.
Despite being organised shoppers, women dislike crowds, feel rushed at the checkout and are always shocked at the price of their purchases
And this is despite being organised and armed with shopping lists, money off-coupons, tissues, vouchers and recycled carrier bags.
In contrast, three quarters of men quite enjoy their food shopping experience and are happy to navigate their way around the aisles searching out products.
Men are less forgetful about what they want to buy, are less likely to feel rushed by the cashiers and are more methodical at the checkouts.
Helen Nunn, Head of Marketing at The Co-operative Food which commissioned the research, said: 'We suspect one of the key reasons why women are more agitated in the supermarket is largely because they are rushing round trying to conduct the shopping as quickly as possible.
'Doing the food shop will be one item on a massive list of jobs, and something which simply has to be done at speed.
Men are less forgetful about what they want to buy, are less likely to feel rushed by the cashiers and are more methodical at the checkouts
'Men seem to adopt a much more laid back and methodical approach, taking their time looking for bargains and make sure they’re getting the most for their money.'
The survey shows two thirds of females dislike battling the crowds in the supermarket to get at what they want.
And 34 per cent hate it when other people’s children get in their way.
One in 10 women even admitted to having an argument with another shopper in the supermarket - either because of trolley rage, fighting over the same item or queue jumping.
Four in 10 women can’t stand feeling rushed when the cashier scans items too quickly so they struggle to get everything into the right bags.
And 35 per cent claim they are shocked every time they reach the till and realise how much they have spent.
But the poll suggests women are the savvier shoppers - as they are less baffled by all the different brands in the shop and are more likely to ask for help if needed.
As a consequence, eight in 10 women always come home armed with bargains compared to 67 per cent of men.
TOP SUPERMARKET STRESS-TRIGGERS
Having to battle the crowds to reach products
Struggle to pack bags quickly enough
Getting to the end of the supermarket and realising something is forgotten
Shocked to discover how much everything has added up to
Can’t stand other people’s children
Feel rushed by cashiers as they scan the food too quickly
Spend hours hunting for the most basic items
End up squashing all the soft items with the heavy ones I the shopping trolley
Having to shop on a Saturday
Can’t fit everything into the trolley
And whereas 51 per cent of men are most likely to opt for brands they know the best, 26 per cent of women will simply buy anything which appears on offer.
But men are happy to use technology to get what they want in the supermarket - being more likely to whip out their mobile phone to compare prices or download vouchers as they shop.
Helen Nunn, for The Co-operative Food added: 'Both men and women are consciously becoming savvier shoppers because of the current economic climate, but it’s clear from these findings that they’re using different approaches to net their bargains.
'This study suggests men have more time to stroll around and use their mobile to check out deals and compare prices online, and that’s resulting in a new breed of male supermarket shoppers.
'However, our focus on Big Deals within Easy Reach makes it easy for everyone to pick up a bargain.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2095969/Study-reveals-women-flustered-stressed-supermarkets.html#ixzz1lLbP5Vms
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