# Massage - How does it work?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massage-how-does-it-work/317366>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 17, 2005, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massage-how-does-it-work/317366 "2005-08-17T01:37:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Atticus\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Atticus\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atticus_Finch)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massage-how-does-it-work/317366/1 "2005-08-17T01:37:27Z")

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When one is given a massage or rub-down, how exactly does this make one feel good and release tension in muscles? What is going on, physiologically? While we’re at it, what exactly are the muscle “knots” you can feel under the skin in tense / painful areas?

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massage-how-does-it-work/317366/2 "2005-08-17T01:55:04Z")

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[Here is a recent thread about the knots.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=326199&highlight=knots+muscle)