massage usually only provides a temporary benefit because it releases the tension in the muscles, but does nothing to keep it from returning. The stiffness in

massage usually only provides a temporary benefit because it releases the tension in the muscles, but does nothing to keep it from returning. The stiffness in muscles is ultimately caused by poor circulation through the muscle. The sarcomeres pump their own blood supply and if the demand is greater than the supply, the sarcomere can run out of energy in its contracted position. This contraction shortens the entire muscles when many sarcomeres are affected. New blood cannot enter the sarcomeres until something pushes out the depleted blood. Massage can do this, but massage will not correct the poor circulation that caused the stiffness to begin with. And that circulation problem is usually caused muscle sheaths that have not been stretched frequently enough. The body's natural collagen deposition essentially gluing it to itself so that it cannot expand or stretch normally. This creates a tight situation when you use the muscle inside of this sheath. The muscle is thicker when contracted and pushes out against this sheath. That creates pressure and blood takes the path of least resistance away from your tight muscle. The tightness inside the muscle must be massaged and then the sheath must be manipulated and stretched. Otherwise, the sheath is too stiff due to the stiff, thick muscle inside it. Further compounding the situation is the way tense muscles effect other muscles and spread the problem. Muscles work together and communicate that a load needs to be moved. A great system when things are healthy, but a permanent source of stress that will thwart efforts just limited to a muscle and its sheath.