Reiki & HIV Wellness

In the past, I have discussed different forms of energy work. Shiatsu, for example, being one of them. There are many different kinds of energy-based modalities to choose from. What I find most interesting is that while they all work with energy, generally, in some capacity, each modality works with the energy differently. Energy healing is being woven into patient services and treatment programs for people with cancer, fibromyalgia, pain, and depression. Like many other forms of complementary and alternative medicine, Reiki is now viewed by many as an effective, accepted alternative practice in mainstream America, where at least 1.2 million adults have tried the energy healing therapy. More than sixty U.S. hospitals have adopted Reiki as part of patient services, according to a UCLA study, and Reiki education is offered at 800 hospitals.

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Massage and Muscle Recovery

There are various types of massage therapy – deep tissue, Swedish, sports and many more. The type of session you have should be discussed with your massage therapist and based upon your specific therapeutic goals. While massage therapy is often both seen and advertised as a means of relaxation, which has health benefits all its own, there are other physiological benefits, such as muscle recovery, that we should not ignore. Muscle recovery is just one of the benefits that can enhance your workout, help prevent injury and assist you in reaching your goals.

As a whole, our bodies require nutrition and oxygen to thrive and survive. Our muscles, specifically, are no different. After any workout, muscles can become inflamed and there is always some level of tearing of muscle fibers. But, how do muscles repair themselves? How do they recover? Nutrition and oxygen are needed. How do we increase nutrition and oxygen to a specific area? Improved circulation – and massage therapy is known to increase circulation.

In addition to enhanced nutrition and oxygenation to muscle tissue, there have been many studies regarding the impact of massage therapy on a cellular level and relating to muscle tissue recovery. One such study, for example, put participants through a difficult workout to examine muscle tissue. In order to see the impact of massage therapy, samples of muscle tissue were taken before and after the exercise. The study revealed that massage reduced the production of something called cytokines. This compound plays a substantial role in the process of inflammation. Massage also stimulated something called mitochondria. These cells, which live in the muscle, convert glucose into the energy essential for muscle cell function and repair.

In another study, published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, strength and proprioception were assessed in two groups - massage participants and non-massage participants. Proprioception, by the way, is our ability and awareness to sense where our body parts are in space. It’s how we place our foot on the ground to walk without stomping with every step and how we reach to scratch our noses without punching ourselves in the face. Proprioception is important for both injury prevention and the expression of strength and technique.

The results of this study showed improvement in levels of proprioception in the group that received massage after their workout. In addition, muscular strength analysis showed strength was greater in the group that received the massage as well.