Massage Therapy and your Heart

Massage is an amazing way to ease muscle pain and feel better in our bodies. For massage therapists who focus on the nervous system, like me, we know that massage benefits us in so many more ways, not just muscle deep.

Today I want to share a few ways that massage supports heart health for all of us as well as those of us with fibromylagia.

• Massage Regulates the Nervous System- This has a ripple effect on the entire body and contributes directly to many of the benefits listed below. Especially for our fibro folks.

• Reduces Cortisol & Increases our Feel Good Hormones- Massage lowers stress hormones while boosting oxytocin, dopamine, and endorphins, all of which promote relaxation and well-being.

• Lowers Blood Pressure- The calming effects of massage can help to reduce blood pressure and create a more relaxed state for your heart.

• Improves Circulation- Massage enhances blood flow delivering oxygen and nutrients to the heart and muscles, supporting overall health.

• Supports Lymphatic Flow- Massage encourages the movement of lymph fluid, which helps reduce swelling and supports immune function

• Encourages Healthy Sleep (one of my favorites)- Quality sleep is crucial for heart health, and massage can help you achieve a more restful night.

Fibromyalgia and your heart:

By now you have heard me share that fibromyalgia is a nervous system condition, not a musculoskeletal one. We know that our nervous system touches every other system of the body, which helps explain why this syndrome can create such wide and varied symptoms. This, of course, includes our cardiovascular system. When we move from our rest and digest nervous system into fight or flight, our body makes rapid changes to support what it believes we may need for survival. Energy is mobilized. Blood flow shifts. Oxygen and resources are directed towards the systems that help us respond quickly.

So how does fibromyalgia affect your heart?

Research suggests that fibromyalgia does not typically damage the structure of the heart itself or directly effect it. Instead it may affect how the autonomic nervous system (the fight or flight and rest and digest system I mention a lot) regulates heart rate, blood pressure, and recovery after stress.

For some people this can look like:

• Changes in heart rate or palpitations- An overactive stress response can increase sympathetic (fight or flight) signaling, which may cause a racing or irregular pulse.

• Lower heart rate variability- Studies have shown reduced heart rate variability in fibromyalgia, meaning the body may have a harder time shifting between activation and rest.

• Fatigue or lightheadedness with activity- Autonomic dysregulation can influence circulation and how quickly the body recovers after exertion.

Understanding this connection helps us look at our cardiovascular system through a new lens. We can more clearly understand why massage that is focused first on our nervous system can make such a big difference for everyone but especially those with fibromyalgia. While relaxation may seem like such a superficial benefit of massage, we know that a massage that helps us shift into our rest and digest nervous system has whole body benefits including our heart.