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Language of Massage

April 24, 2006

Language of Massage

Massage therapy is offered to clients as a form of 'manipulating' superficial tissues of the body. The pattern of strokes is the same as that first described by the Swedish School (Ling). Without any formal concept of kinesthetics or psychophysics, attention then could not be given to neuro and sensory consequences of physical manipulation. The situation today is so far advanced we should reconsider how massage therapy influences the body.

The basic question raised today deals with how the neurological system reacts to indentation, extension, static pressure and temperature when applied to skin. We are beginning to discover how the body processes and responds to mental images of physical contact. This is far beyond the more basic process of responding to direct physical contact, but that is where we are today.

Early insights into touching have been long known by biophysicists, nurses and behaviour scientists. Before massage educators recognized the need to actually study what happens when human beings touch each other, scientists looked at human skin as a rudimentary ear. Nobel Laureate von Bekesy showed that word sounds applied to human skin could be detected and understood. Earlier description of factors involved in touching was published by several nurse educators. But, the initial ground-breaking effort to advance understanding of interpersonal contact had to confront the taboo against touching and physical contact between any client and any therapist.

Ashley Montague's early discussion of the biological significance of the skin clearly recognized these facts as major parts of the essential nature of human life. In addition, a series of clinical studies by psychiatrists revealed why some human beings engage in acts of body contact - - - the wish to be held. Some people act in almost any manner within their imagination to put themselves in proximity of being touched and held. While sexual innuendo was part of the strategy to be touched and held, sexual satisfaction is not the goal.

In fact, the author suggests that sexual activity is not satisfying in and of itself until and unless skin has satisfied itself.

Along another line, clinical studies deal with how infants and mothers become bonded during immediate post-partum period. Infants at their mother's breasts stimulate release of the hormone oxytocin. Mothers respond to their infants suckling by changing attitude and behaviour mediated by the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin can also be released when skin and other parts of the body are stimulated by contact, manipulation and massage.

A series of very important studies by Manfred Clynes reveals that the human psychoneuro system interprets patterns of touching the skin. Indentation, surface, stretching and direction are codified. The human psychoneuro apparatus reads biophysical touch patterns to identify a set of unique emotions.

One does not have to know the theory in order to produce these emotions.
Because, one's emotional state and neuro system (toucher) automatically codes the touch pattern being experienced by the person being touched.

With just these few pieces of valuable information, we may ask some very important questions about massage therapy. First, what actually mediates the influence of massage? Is it touching, indenting and stretching of skin?

Or, is it some mental image and neuro processing of new, stored and retrieved information that creates the immediate experience?

Why are certain massage sessions spectacularly satisfying, fulfilling and philosophically enriching? Or, why do I feel the way I do when either I am receiving touch, or when I am providing touch during therapy sessions?

Likely, it is because human beings, therapists and clients alike, are encoded with neuro-biophysical mechanisms intended to communicate information - without risking contamination, confusion or confession by verbal exchange!

The psychiatrist Older said,

"Touching is not a technique. Not touching is a technique."

Clearly, it is also true of massage therapy that,

"It goes without saying."

About the author: Harry R. Elden, Ph.D., LMT is a basic research scientist, educator and therapist. He works on biophysical aspects of human skin with particular interest in aging. Numerous articles have been written for standard scientific journals, professional organizations, meetings and seminars. He develops biophysical modalities to evaluate and treat aging human skin as encountered in the massage/aesthetic skin care setting. He invites all readers to contact him should they wish further information regarding biophysics and massage of aging human skin.

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