The benefits of massage go far beyond alleviating tension. Having a massage allows you to disconnect from your stresses, whether at work or at home. Besides lowering stress, massage can also lessen physical stress symptoms such as stiff muscles, tension headaches, and tense shoulders. When you have damaged muscles, a massage will allow the release of contaminants and help stretch compressed or twisted muscles. A study found that real world massages cut chronic pain by 50%. Massage also improves circulation, when pressure is applied, blood is pushed into congested areas, and when this pressure is released , fresh blood flows in. This process clears metabolic waist from muscles and organs , reducing blood pressure and improving body function. The massage helps flush lactic acid out of the muscles and boost lymphatic circulation.