Table 3 notes the division between the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system. Table 3. Autonomic Nervous System Organ Sympathetic Arousal Parasympathetic Arousal Heart Heartbeat accelerates Heartbeat decelerates Majority of blood vessels (skeletal muscle blood vessels) Vasoconstriction (Vasodilation) None Iris Dilation of pupil Constriction of pupil Bladder Inhibits bladder (relaxes) Stimulates bladder (contracts) Lungs Opens bronchial tubes Constricts bronchial tubes Intestines
of relief and peace during or after treatment may also cause increased sensitivity or even some degree of pain during the massage. Because the nervous system regulates all other body systems, the effects of massage on the nervous system can also influence the operation of other body systems. Many of the endocrine and autonomic nervous system’s operations that are not easily altered through conscious effort. Massage can modify the individual’s unconscious systems, potentially changing the way stressful events affect the sympathetic nervous system (Noonan, 2018). Because many of the reflexive effects of massage are mediated through the nervous system, the following section will review functions of the central nervous system in more detail. The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS), including the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system, including the cranial and spinal nerves. The peripheral nervous system is divided into the autonomic and somatic sub-systems. The somatic nervous system controls organs under voluntary control (primarily muscles). The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates organ function and homeostasis and is in large part not subject to voluntary control. The ANS is also known as the visceral or automatic system. The ANS transmits impulses from the CNS to peripheral organ systems, affecting heart rate and the contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle, pupil size, and digestive secretions. Stress and sympathetic arousal Stress-related illnesses are associated with exaggerated sympathetic effects, which may include headaches, digestive problems, feelings of anxiety, high blood pressure and a variety of aches and pains. Long-term activation of the sympathetic nervous system typically results in what we have come to call “stress,” which can take its toll on the body. The flight-or-fight response is the body’s first reaction to stress or risk. During activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the adrenal glands release adrenaline (epinephrine). In a response that lasts up to a half hour, the blood pressure increases, skeletal muscles tighten, and elimination and digestive function are put on hold. The second stage of stress is resistance, which involves the secretion of regulating hormones that allow the body to continue carrying out the emergency strategy beyond the Limbic system The ANS is controlled by areas in the cerebral cortex, the medulla oblongata and primarily the hypothalamus, which receives impulses from sensory fibers in the organs, muscles, and joints. The hypothalamus is part of the limbic system, which also includes the hippocampus and the amygdala, along with other areas of the brain. The hypothalamus is responsible for homeostasis or self-regulation. It sends instructions to the body through the ANS, controlling blood pressure, heart rate, and perspiration, as well as through the pituitary gland, regulating the body’s metabolism and growth. The limbic system is largely responsible for and closely associated with emotions and the creation of memories. Known as the pain and pleasure center , it is also associated with changes in mood and emotional states. The limbic system receives input regarding the fullness or emptiness of the stomach and the skin’s temperature, and it also manages feelings of hunger, thirst, pleasure, pain, sexual response, and aggression.
Decreases peristalsis
Increases peristalsis
Digestive glands Inhibits digestive juices
Increases digestive juices
initial moment of alarm. If there is no relief of the stress or risk (that is, if the stimulus or stress is not interrupted or relief is not possible), the final stage is one of exhaustion. Exhaustion begins when the body is no longer able to tolerate the stress or danger. In this stage, if stress is not alleviated, the body releases cortisol. Long-term exposure to stress can result in physical wear and tear, including the development of cardiovascular, upper respiratory, and digestive difficulties. Massage can slow autonomic arousal and the tension that builds daily from our adrenaline responses. Massage stimulates the nervous system though the sensory receptors, disrupting the existing pattern in the central nervous system, and results in shifting impulses that affect the peripheral nervous system, restoring homeostasis. Healthcare Consideration: As a manual therapist, it is not within your scope of practice to recommend, prescribe, or administer medications. That is very important to note. However, a general understanding about how medicines absorb and affect different systems of the body is good to know so you can more completely understand what is happening in the body of a client who is taking a particular medication. We know that the more information we have about our clients, the more effective we are able to be as therapists designing a treatment plan incorporating massage therapy.
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