Increased endorphins, serotonin and dopamine hormones is a common benefit gained through massage. Endorphins, serotonin and dopamine are positive hormones that circulate around the body. Endorphins, serotonin and dopamine can give a person a sense of well-being and reduce anxiety. Various techniques can be used during a massage to increase endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. Our massage therapists at Physio.co.uk increase endorphins, serotonin and dopamine through massage to help increase relaxation.
What is increased endorphins, serotonin and dopamine?
Increased endorphins, serotonin and dopamine is where an increase in the level of positive hormones occurs within the body. Endorphins, serotonin and dopamine are neurotransmitters that are released when the autonomic nervous system is stimulated. Endorphins, serotonin and dopamine can give us our feelings of happiness and motivation. Endorphins are responsible for relieving anxiety and are also often released when feelings of pain occur. Serotonin can give a person a sense of well-being whilst also preventing depression and the feeling of loneliness. Finally, dopamine provides a feeling of motivation whilst decreasing the lack of enthusiasm and self-doubt. A massage helps to stimulate the release of the positive hormones to help reduce stress and increase relaxation.
What are the benefits of increased endorphins, serotonin and dopamine?
A range of benefits can be gained when endorphins, serotonin and dopamine levels are increased. The most common benefits gained include:
- Relxation
- Decreased stress
Above: Neck and shoulder soft tissue massage from experienced therapist to reduce tension and aching
Increased endorphins, serotonin and dopamine can improve relaxation. Relaxation can be decreased for a variety of reasons. The most common reasons relaxation decreases include lack of sleep, anxiety, pain and stress. An increase in the positive hormones endorphins, serotonin and dopamine help to relieve the symptoms reducing relaxation. Endorphins help to reduce anxiety and relieve some parts of pain to help a person relax. Serotonin and dopamine help to reduce stress by preventing depression and increasing motivation, again increasing relaxation.
Stress levels can be reduced when an increase in endorphins, serotonin and dopamine occurs. Low levels of endorphins, serotonin and dopamine can mentally increase stress. Stress is most commonly increased when the negative hormone cortisol is released. Although cortisol isn"t the only reason contributing to increased stress levels, it is the most common cause. Cortisol can increase blood pressure, suppress the immune system and increase anxiety and depression. When an increase in endorphins, serotonin and dopamine occurs, cortisol levels decrease. An increase in positive hormones and decrease in negative hormones reduces stress.
What techniques are used to increase endorphins, serotonin and dopamine?
A range of techniques can be used to increase endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. The most common techniques used include:
- Wringing
- Kneading
- Myofascial release
Above: Impoved circulation from massage can help release hormose such as endorphines, serotonic and dopamine which are hormones released following exercise.
Wringing can be used to increase endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. Wringing is where flattened hands and fingers are used to pull soft tissues from around a treatment area in opposite directions. Wringing compresses against soft tissues helping to separate the superficial and deep tissues from each other, reducing tightness and restriction. Wringing is often used to also increase muscle temperature to improve tissue elasticity. Temperature is increased due to the encouragement of an increase in blood flow. Increasing blood flow helps to stimulate the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system triggers the release of endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. Wringing therefore increases endorphins serotonin and dopamine by increasing blood flow and stimulating the autonomic nervous system.
A common technique used to increase endorphins, serotonin and dopamine is kneading. Kneading is where soft tissues are pulled and squeezed in circular movements. Kneading helps to relax muscles by increasing their elasticity and reducing tension. Kneading helps to increase blood and lymph flow, prepare muscles for deeper techniques and increase cellular exchange. As blood flow is increased during kneading, this encourages the autonomic nervous system to stimulate the release of endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. Stimulating the release of endorphins, serotonin and dopamine increases the availability of the positive hormones to be used around the body.
Myofascial release can increase endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. Myofascial release is the process in which pressure is slowly applied to the treatment area using flattened hands and fingers. Slowly applying pressure to the treatment area helps to rise the temperature of fascia. Fascia is a thin layer of connective tissues located beneath the skin that can often become restrictive. Rising the temperature of fascia allows the hands to get deeper within the tissues to help to reduce restriction by increasing their elasticity and flexibility. Myofascial release requires an increase in blood flow to help rise fascia temperature. The autonomic nervous system is activated as the blood circulation improves. Activating the autonomic nervous system helps to trigger the release of the positive hormones. Myofascial release therefore increases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine.
What situation would increased endorphins, serotonin and dopamine help?
Increased endorphins, serotonin and dopamine can help in many situations. The most common situations increased endorphins, serotonin and dopamine can help include:
- Pre event
- Pregnancy
Above: Deep tissue massage by a specialist therapist can help release benefical hormones that decrease stress
Increased endorphins, serotonin and dopamine can help pre event. Before an event, a person may feel anxious and nervous which can result in an increase in stress and tension. A massage helps pre event by increasing the level of positive hormones around the body. Increasing the positive hormones endorphins, serotonin and dopamine encourages relaxation. An increase in relaxation reduces the feelings of anxiety and nervousness, decreasing stress and tension. Increasing relaxation and decreasing stress and tension can help a person perform to their best ability during the event.
Increasing the levels of endorphins, serotonin and dopamine can help during pregnancy. During pregnancy, women can often have feelings of stress, anxiety, depression and many more. These feelings are very common for many women during pregnancy which can often make the experience less enjoyable. Endorphins, serotonin and dopamine help to relieve symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression and increase feeling of happiness, motivation and relaxation. Using massage to increase endorphins, serotonin and dopamine helps to reduce negative effects of pregnancy, making the experience more enjoyable.
Summary
Increased endorphins, serotonin and dopamine is the process in stimulating the autonomic nervous system to help increase levels of positive hormones within the body. There are many benefits of increased endorphins, serotonin and dopamine including increased relaxation and decreased stress. Techniques such as wringing, kneading and myofascial release are all used to increase endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. Increased endorphins, serotonin and dopamine can help pre event and during pregnancy. Our massage therapists at Physio.co.uk use massage to help increase relaxation and give a person a sense of well-being.
How can I arrange a sports massage to increase endorphins, serotonin and dopamine?
The easiest way to arrange a sports massage to increase endorphins, serotonin and dopamine at Physio.co.uk is to email us at office@physio.co.uk or call us on 0800 033 7800.
Alternatively if you have any questions please feel free to contact us.
We offer a 7 day service and provide home and clinic appointments.
↑ Back to Top
You are here: / Treatments / Massage / Physiological effects of massage / Hormonal effects / Increased endorphines serotonin dopamine /
