Canine Massage Therapy
involves gently manipulating the dog’s muscles to promote relaxation, reduce muscular tension, improve circulation, and enhance overall well-being.
Many humans know the mental and physical benefits of massage therapy for ourselves, and our dogs benefit just as much!
Benefits of Canine Massage:
Increase Relaxation
- Some studies have shown that massage therapy has a positive effect on biochemistry, including reducing the stress hormone cortisol and increasing the “happy” hormones serotonin and dopamine. (1)
Decrease Muscular Tension, Stiffness & Soreness
- The pressure applied from massage therapy to muscles stimulates mechanoreceptors that send information to the central and autonomic nervous systems. In turn, the central nervous system sends a signal back to the muscles to reduce their tonus. The autonomic nervous system response also changes global muscle tonus, as well as fluid dynamics to decrease viscosity and the tonus of the smooth muscle cells located in the fascia. (2)
Improve Range of Motion (ROM)
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Heightened activity of muscle spindles in particular areas of a muscle can create micro-spasms, and as a result adhesions may begin to form in the soft tissue. These adhesions form a weak, inelastic matrix that decreases normal muscle fiber elasticity resulting in altered length-tension relationships and reduced flexibility.
Massage therapy may help in “releasing” these micro-spasms that develop in traumatized tissue and “break up” the fascial adhesions that are created, thus improving the muscles ability to lengthen. (3)
Increase Blood Circulation
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The pressure applied to the soft tissues during massage helps to increase blood flow through increasing skin & muscle temperature, increasing arteriolar pressure, and stimulating the release of nitric oxide (a molecule that helps relax and dilate blood vessels). (4)
This increased vasodilation promotes a smoother flow of blood, which in turn:
- Enhances oxygen and nutrient delivery; helping to support cell function, recovery, and growth.
- Improves removal of metabolic waste products and “toxins”
Decrease Recovery Time & Improve Performance
- Current evidence suggests that massage therapy may be effective for alleviating Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) and decreasing recovery time. (5)
- Massage also helps to release restrictions within the muscles, allowing for the whole length of the muscle to be utilized during exercise.
Improve Posture, Structure, and Alignment
- The muscles that surround a joint work together with opposing forces to keep the bones of the joints centered for optimum posture and movement. If one of these muscles becomes unevenly tight or strong, it can pull on the bones and alter joint alignment, which in turn effects a dog’s posture.
Promoting balance in opposing muscles length-tension relationship can help to keep a dog in good postural alignment.
Conclusion:
Canine massage is a valuable therapy that offers numerous physical and emotional benefits for dogs of all ages and breeds.
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