HEART HEALTH & MASSAGE

Supporting Circulation & Recovery 

February is Heart Health Month. You can do a lot of things to improve your heart health, including regular exercise, eating a heart-healthy diet, and avoiding tobacco products. 

But did you also know that massage can actually help your heart? Let’s look at how massage can improve your cardiovascular health. 

Heart Health & Massage 

One study in women, found that regular, weekly Swedish massage had the following effects on heart health: 

• Lower blood pressure 

• Lower heart rate 

• Lower signs of inflammation of the heart's blood vessels 

Experts think massage may help the heart by reducing stress hormones and activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps you relax. 

Massage, Circulation, & Recovery 

Ever feel sore after a workout? That’s called delayed-onset muscle soreness, or DOMS.

Massage helps remove muscle breakdown products following exercise by improving circulation through the affected muscles. One study found that

massage improved DOMS by 30%, though it did not improve muscle function or range of motion. 

A specialized form of massage called manual lymphatic drainage can also remove excess lymphatic fluid from tissues, whether due to injury or other health issues such as cancer treatment.

If you have any underlying heart or metabolic issue like diabetes, always check with your health care provider before getting any type of therapy. 

Care for Yourself & Your Heart

Fortunately, PFP has 5 therapists available to provide massage services. Book your massage during Heart Health Month to improve your cardiovascular health and recovery!