THE SENSE OF Touch

The sense of touch is the rst sense to develop in humans, occurring about eight weeks into the gestation period. It is controlled by a large network of nerve endings and touch receptors in the skin. This system is responsible for our sensations of cold, hot, smooth, rough, pressure, pain, vibrations, and more. The nervous system helps these sensations reach the brain by passing information along through neurons, ultimately sending a message to the brain about what you are touching.

Our sense of touch also affects our sense of taste, whether it be the burn from a hot pepper or the coolness of mint. The sensations from these are not created from taste buds — taste buds are responsible for sweet, bitter, sour, salty, and umami (savory). The sensation of heat and cold are created from touch receptors.

The bene ts of human touch have been widely researched and with many different massage techniques, there’s a multitude of ways to reap these bene ts.

Massage can help with anything from simple relaxation to more complex ailments. Some issues that have been shown to improve with massage include:

Back Pain

According to studies, massage has been shown to reduce the need for painkillers by 36 percent. Massage can help relieve tension that is associated with back pain.

Osteoarthritis

Massage helps improve symptoms of pain and stiffness, as well as improve function in those suffering from osteoarthritis.

Headaches

With 45 million Americans suffering from either headaches or chronic migraines, massage helps bring relief and ease the pain. Many headaches and migraines are a result of stress and tension. Massage helps maintain a level of relaxation that manages stress-relief.

According to Gwen Heim, Regional Developer of aVida Massage & Medspa of Fayetteville, “The skin is the largest organ in the body and is designed, amongst other things to experience touch. Massages have a huge impact, not just on our sore, tired muscles, but also our physical and mental health.”

Beyond the physical bene ts, massage has also been shown to improve our mental health.

“Studies have shown that a hug or a reassuring touch a day can improve our mood, reduce stress, increase circulation and of course we also feel more loved and appreciated as a result,” added Heim. “Being touched also releases endorphins, which is the feel good hormone, and is also shown to be bene cial to our health.”

aVida Massage & Medspa, located at 745 E. Joyce Blvd., Suite No. 201, is a warm and welcoming 4,000 square foot facility with 13 treatment rooms.

The facility features two couple’s rooms, 10 individual massage treatment rooms, and two aesthetics/skin care rooms. The facility is located in the Nelson’s Crossing Shopping Center, just south of the Mall. aVida Massage & Medspa has been open since September 2008, serving the wellness needs of Northwest Arkansas.