Muscle tightness and tension can be caused by many reasons, the most common being overuse and injury. During a chest massage, muscle temperature is increased due to the friction created between the skin and fingers. An increase in temperature loosens muscles allowing them to stretch and become more flexible. Loosening muscles results in the relaxation of tight and tense muscles and also reduces pain.
A chest massage helps the body to relax mentally by increasing the level of relaxation hormones called serotonin and dopamine. An increase in serotonin and dopamine reduces stress and therefore increases relaxation.
Frictions are commonly used during a chest massage. Frictions are performed using the thumbs or fingertips. Frictions are where pressure is placed along muscle fibres to help break down collagen fibres. Collagen fibres can be fibrous and become restrictive resulting in pain. When using frictions, the short, circular movements, increase the temperature of the fibres. Increasing the temperature of the fibres helps them to loosen and stretch. Loosened collagen fibres, increases flexibility and reduces restriction.
Kneading is a technique used during a chest massage. Kneading is where soft tissues are pulled and squeezed. Kneading aims to reduce restriction caused by connective tissues and improve blood and lymph flow. When the muscles are being pulled and squeezed during a chest massage, the temperature of tissues increases. Increasing the temperature of the tissues allows them to stretch and increase in elasticity. Increasing elasticity reduces restriction. When muscle temperature increases during a massage, blood and lymph flow is also increased. Increasing blood and lymph flow helps to increase nutrients and oxygen in the muscles and decrease metabolic wastes. Increasing oxygen and nutrient levels and decreasing metabolic wastes, aids in the maintenance of stronger, healthier muscles.
A chest massage effectively uses trigger pointing. Trigger pointing is performed using fingers or thumbs and is where pressure is applied onto trigger points. Trigger points are located in the centre of a muscle fibre. Trigger pointing aims to soften and break down muscular knots that could be causing muscle spasms, restriction and pain. Pressure applied to trigger points causes an ischemic reaction. An ischemic reaction occurs when blood flow is restricted to an area of the body. When the pressure is released, the body detects a form of damage as cells are broken down to soften the knots. Once the body detects damage, an increase in blood flow is delivered to this area. An increase in blood flow provides the muscles with an increase in healthy nutrients and oxygen. Breaking down muscular knots and increasing blood flow reduces restriction, pain and muscle spasms.
A common technique used during a chest massage is skin rolling. Skin rolling is performed using the fingers and thumbs. Fingers and thumbs are used to pick up the skin and roll the skin. Skin rolling helps to relieve tight muscles and fascia. Fascia is a thin layer of connective tissues located beneath the skin surface. During a chest massage, an increase in blood flow occurs, rising muscle temperature. Increasing muscle temperature loosens muscles and allows them to stretch. Flexibility and range of movement is increased as muscles are loosened, therefore reducing muscle tightness. The temperature of fascia is also increased. Fascia can become restrictive resulting in pain. Increasing the temperature of fascia, improves the elasticity. Improving the elasticity of fascia reduces restriction and therefore pain.
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