The body’s muscular system is comprised of over 650 muscles, which provide the body’s strength, balance, posture, movement, contraction, joint stability, muscle tone, and muscle metabolism (body temperature). Muscles account for approximately 40% of the body’s weight. There are essentially three types of muscles in the body: skeletal, cardiac and smooth. The cardiac and smooth muscles are part of the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary actions, such as heart beats, blood pressure, and rate of breathing.

 

The skeletal muscles are controlled by the central nervous system for conscious, voluntary control. Each muscle has skeletal muscle, and connective, nerve and vascular tissues. Muscles usually operate in pairs, one responsible for extending, while the other is responsible for bending. Joints, bones and skeletal muscles work together to produce movements like walking, running, facial expressions, breathing, chewing and for fine and gross motor skills. Muscles also provide joint stability for important regions such as knees and shoulders. They also work together to contract, which provides posture (sitting and standing), joint stability and heat production. Muscles provide 85% of the body’s heat.

Skeletal muscles can be defined by body group.s.

 

Massage assists the muscular system in the following ways:
 

• stimulating the circulatory system

• stimulating the nervous system’s sensory neurons

• enhancing cell activity

• helping to facilitate waste removal in the lymph system

• releasing facial constrictions

• assisting in reducing connective tissue thickening

• providing flexibility

• decreasing fibrous adhesions from muscle tissue injury or immobilization

• enhancing range of motion

• increasing tone

• rehabilitating post-operatively

• warming-up or warming-down muscles exercise

• relaxation

• enhancing posture and balance

• assisting muscle tone

• facilitating movement

• releasing facial constrictions

• increasing flexibility

• managing pain