The human nervous system is a stimulus-response system. It responds to stimuli in relatively predictable ways. Most people think that massage relaxes muscles. This is only indirectly true. Actually, therapists apply a stimulus to the nervous system by tactile stimulation of the skin and subcutaneous tissues that hopefully elicits an inhibition (relaxation) response, either locally, generally, or both. The PSR is sometimes called “the relaxation response.” Actually, it is the “normal” operating state of the nervous system where the brain is running in the Alpha brain wavelength range of 8 – 12 Hz. In this state, the body relaxes, digestion and immune functions increase, heart and respiration rates lower. This is the state in which we heal best. It is the state we should be in a lot more often, and yes, massage can elicit the PSR if properly applied. Proper stimulus equals desired response. Do you know which massage techniques elicit the PSR and which do not? You should.

The sympathetic state is where most people operate too much of the time. This is the Beta brain waves of 13– 30 Hz, the prominence of which cause anxiety, high arousal, inability to relax, depressed digestion and immune function, increased heart and respiration rates, etc. The “fight or flight” state is our response to stress.  Stress being anything our conscious or subconscious mind perceives as a threat/stressor. Pain is a significant stressor to almost everyone and elicits the sympathetic response. This includes pain inflicted during a massage. Pain from massage doesn’t elicit relaxation(PSR), it causes muscle contraction. A muscle cannot generally contract and relax at the same time. Neither can the entire system. Massage causing pain, even “discomfort” is non-productive, not healing, and no longer necessary. It is obsolete and there are now better ways.  

Obviously, if massage can elicit the PSR, that would generally be a good thing for most patients. A relaxation massage can do this – generally – if done correctly. However, the general parasympathetic state seldom overrides local sympathetic stress from injuries, tissue trauma, etc. (i.e. pain). Most patients, even those coming for a relaxation massage, have pain somewhere in their body and most of it is soft tissue related. Most pain is ischemic in nature, a lack of blood in a part, due to hypertonic (contracted) muscles. General relaxation massage will do little to affect a lasting change in ischemic areas of soft tissue which are being held in a hypertonic state by the nervous system through reflex–arcs and facilitated pathways. Specific, precise massage stimuli can interrupt and “reset” these patterns to bring lasting relief. Until recently, the way to become specific was to apply more pressure, either very specifically and precisely as in Trigger Point (TrP) and Tender Point (TeP) Therapies, or generally as in “Deep Tissue” techniques. While impressive results can be achieved with these therapies, they come at the expense of causing discomfort and often pain (stress) to the patient plus strain, even injury, over time to the therapist. Not a good trade-off for either party AND no longer necessary!

 Massage techniques that inflict additional pain (nociceptive input) incite sympathetic responses and elicit endorphins, giving a “runner’s high”, which patients falsely equate to relaxation. Patients like this feeling and this is why some don’t “feel massaged” or “relaxed” unless they endure discomfort during a massage. Endorphins interact with the opiate receptors to reduce perception of pain, acting similarly to drugs like morphine and codeine. But, the pain from the treatment stimulates the sympathetic state. When the endorphins wear off a few hours after the massage, the pain typically returns, sometimes accompanied by post-treatment soreness. Not the best way to elicit healing. It is time to end this barbaric way of treating both patients and therapists. Proper education is required for both.

How to Learn a Better Way

There are specific things to look for in CE Courses when you want to learn a better way.

First, look for techniques (systems) that are effective and friendly to the therapist’s body. Not all therapeutic approaches are kind to the therapist's hands and body over the years.  

Second, you want one that elicits the parasympathetic response as it is applied, meaning it does not cause any pain or discomfort, yet precisely eliminates TrPs and TePs, normalizes muscle tonus, and improves nervous system functioning.

Third, take hands-on classes live and be mentored by the expert, not on-line or home study courses. The successful therapist will learn from the experts in the field, ideally from the source organization of a particular technique with their certified instructors.  

Fourth, find therapeutic approaches that work really well for a broad spectrum of issues. What therapies provide the biggest bang for the buck in the shortest period of time, both to learn and to apply?

This is a big order to fill.  The only system I have found that can provide all this and more is called Neural Reset Therapy®, (NRT).

 NRT is in a completely different category by itself. It is not the same old stuff taught for many decades or centuries. NRT’s gentle, precise stimuli powerfully elicit the parasympathetic response. It not only eliminates trigger-points and pain, it also improves lymph flow and balances the overall functioning of the nervous system. In the advanced NRT work, you learn to take care of problems with the periosteum, scar tissue, and to restore movement patterns lost after accidents, surgeries, or strokes. All this is done without hurting yourself or your patients. It is easy to get big results in a short period of time. The patient receives a more stable correction because the entire body can be done in a single session. It is taught in a three-seminar series for very reasonable fees. Check it out at: http://www.neuralreset.net/.

 I’ll be back here in September’s issue, but 2020 is my last year teaching seminars and writing columns. See the schedule of my last eight seminars at: http://www.ralphstephens.com/.