The specific mechanisms of action of massage therapy are
unknown, but various physiological responses to massage therapy
have been claimed. These mechanisms include: increased lymph
flow, a shift from sympathetic to parasympathetic response,
prevention of fibrosis, increased clearance of blood lactate, and
effects on the immune system, cognition and pain. A popular
claim is that massage therapy can increase blood flow to the
muscles. However, this claim has been questioned, as increasing
scientific evidence has shown no influence of massage therapy on
blood flow. Massage does seem to produce local biochemical
changes, which might lead to increased neural activity at the spinal
cord level and subcortical nuclei, which might affect mood and
pain perception. Therefore, massage therapy could potentially
reduce anxiety, depression and pain through the increase of
serotonin and endorphins