Massage therapy primarily aims to achieve what therapeutic effect?

The primary aim of massage therapy is to reduce muscle tension. Massage is a hands-on technique that manipulates the soft tissues of the body, particularly muscles. By applying pressure and movement, massage helps to relieve tightness and stress within the muscles, promoting relaxation and alleviating discomfort. This reduction of muscle tension not only improves flexibility and range of motion but also helps to decrease pain and discomfort that may arise from muscle strain or overuse.

While increasing blood supply to an affected area can be a secondary effect of massage, as muscle relaxation can facilitate better circulation, it is not the primary goal. Enhancing respiratory function and promoting weight management are not main objectives of massage therapy; instead, they may be associated with different therapeutic approaches. Therefore, the correct focus on reducing muscle tension aligns with the core benefits that massage therapy seeks to deliver.