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Kneading is a massage therapy technique in which pressure is applied to deep muscle tissues. Kneading can increase range of movement, decrease muscle pain and improve recovery. Massage therapists at Manchester Physio can use kneading as an effective treatment for a range of conditions.
What is Kneading?
Kneading is a massage technique in which pressure is applied. The pressure is deep and it compresses the underlying muscles. Force is also applied across the muscle to break down and realign collagen fibres. Collagen fibres make up the muscle tissue and add strength. When a muscle is injured collagen fibres are laid in a hap hazard direction across the muscle. This reduces the movement of the muscle. Kneading stimulates the muscle and increases muscle flexibility by breaking down and realigning collagen fibres. Friction increases the temperature of the skin and increases blood flow due to vasodilation and capiliarisation. Vasodilation and capiliarisation widens blood cells and increases the number of cells allowing more cellular exchange.
What is Kneading used for?
Kneading is a massage technique used for:
- Deeper and underlying tissues to relieve tightness
- Stretching muscle fibres to increase muscle flexibility
Kneading can be used with force to mobilise fluids and stretch out muscle fibres. Kneading breaks down and realigns collagen fibres to enable muscle flexibility. Increased muscle flexibility will allow more movement in the muscle and alleviate pain.
Above: Kneading massage technique applied to bicep femoris and semitendinosus muscleWhat are the benefits of kneading?
Kneading has many benefits. The benefits of kneading include: Kneading is beneficial to decreasing tension, increasing flexibility and decreasing pain.
Kneading is effective to decrease tension. Kneading relieves tension in the muscle by stretching and mobilising the muscle fibres. Kneading manipulates the muscle fibres therefore increasing muscle flexibility allowing an increase in range of movement and a decrease in pain. Friction causes an increase in temperature and an increase in blood circulation. An increase in blood circulation promotes healing and a faster recovery.
Kneading also helps to increase flexibility in the muscles. Increasing tissue elasticity is important to preventing injuries from occurring and maximising performance. Massage increases temperature of the muscle allowing muscle fibres to loosen. Massage helps to stretch out muscle fibres and increase flexibility.
Massage helps to relieve and reduce pain. Massage increases the flow of blood to joints and muscles; increasing temperature. Massage also triggers the release of natural pain killers and feel good hormones that promote the feeling of relaxation. The touch of massage also interferes with pain signals which do not reach the brain, therefore the feeling of pain is reduced.
How does kneading help?
Kneading helps by breaking down collagen fibres, increasing blood circulation and stimulating the repair of damaged tissues.
Kneading helps to break down collagen fibres. When a muscle is injured the body will lay collagen fibres to repair. The collagen fibres are inelastic and are laid in a hazard direction across the muscle. This reduces the movement of the muscle. Kneading breaks down and realigns the collagen fibres. Kneading increases muscle flexibility which allows more movement in the muscle and therefore alleviate pain. Kneading relieves the built up tension and soreness caused by collagen fibres by lifting and stretching muscles
Kneading also helps to increase blood circulation. When compressing and relaxing the muscle tissue, blood circulation increases. Stimulating from the muscle increases temperature and causes vasodiliation to occur. Vasodiliation is the widening of blood cells in the blood stream. Capiliarisation which is an increase of blood cells also happens from an increase of temperature to the skin. The process of vasodilation and capiliarsiation increases cellular exchange.
Kneading helps to stimulate the healing process of and damaged tissues in the body. Stimulating tissue repair is important to maintain healthy muscles and prevent injuries. Cellular exchange allows oxygenated blood and nutrients into the blood stream and waste products out. Kneading loosens and stretches the muscle and enables it to increase range of movement therefore reduce pain and aid faster recovery.
Above: Kneading massage technique applied to Latissimus dorsi and erector spinae musclesSummary
Kneading is a massage technique applied with pressure by lifting the muscle in circular and upwards motions. Kneading is used to break down and realign collagen fibres to increase flexibility and range of movement in the muscle. It relieves tensions in the muscle fibres and improves deeper blood. Kneading is used by our massage therapists for a range of conditions.
How can I arrange an appointment for kneading? To arrange a kneading treatment, e-mail us at office@manchesterphysio.co.uk or call 0161 883 0077.
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