Role of Water in Massage Therapy

Intro

In our previous blog, "The Importance of Water," we focused on the importance of water on a cellular level. How emotion plays a role in the cellular composition of water molecules, and how we in turn, being mostly comprised of water ourselves, are impacted by words and emotion (The Wellness Enterprise).

In this blog, we'll explore the role of water more in a physical level in how it affects the body's functions. This will be a basic overview, so we welcome you to explore our References if you wish to dive deeper on this topic.

What Role Does Water Have with MT?

What does water do in relation to promoting the effects of massage therapy?

• Hydration

• Recovery

• Detox

• Cellular Emotion

• Topical Receptivity and Pain Relief

Outline of Water's Role in Massage Therapy

Hydration

Since the human body is approximately 55-65% water, it's essential to our wellness (Reiner). Keeping the body hydrated facilitates many functions in the body including temperature regulation, joint lubrication, dispersing nutrients throughout the body, organ function, digestion, and more (Harvard Health Publishing). Cartilage in joints alone are comprised of 80% water. Synovial fluid is a gel-like liquid in joints such as knees, hips, shoulders, and elbows. When appropriately hydrated, this fluid enables joint mobility and also provides nutrients, shock absorption, and reduces friction in these areas (Reiner).

Consequently, dehydration can cause mal effects on the body including decreasing blood volume, which in turn increases the body's heart rate and blood pressure as an attempt to compensate blood flow in the body (Reiner). Without water, organs don't receive necessary nutrients to function properly. Joints can become stiff and other factors such as mental cognition, sleep, and mood can be affected.

The benefits of hydration and massage therapy (MT) go hand in hand. Since MT often works to increase range of motion, hydration gives a strong advantage to maintaining or improving this. Additionally, hydration helps to regulate body temperature, blood flow, minimize headaches, and can also affect the harmony of amiable mood, all of which are also influenced by the increased circulation and relaxation of MT as well.

Recovery

Water has ability to help speed recovery of soft tissue injuries or post-workouts. Water intake not only minimizes inflammation and cushions joints, it disperses nutrients and blood throughout the body. Water also ensures the correct balance of electrolytes which is essential to muscle contraction. Having necessary nutrients and oxygen rich blood in areas of damaged tissue, aids in their repair (Reiner, WaterH). Conversely, dehydration can contribute to cramps, fatigue, and slowed healing.

Massage Therapy often works to alleviate cramps and soft tissue recovery. To speed up these healing processes, drinking water is essential.

Detox

The human body has a natural detoxing process through the lungs, liver, and kidneys (Apec Water). Byproducts pass through the digestive track whereas dehydration can cause blockages. The kidneys process waste products in the blood, removes toxins through urine and receives water soluble toxins from the liver. Staying hydrated facilitates organ function, aiding this process.

By manipulating soft tissue in the body, toxins that were stored in various muscle segments are worked out. Hydration enables that these toxins are then carried out of the body through its natural methods.

Cellular Emotion

A study by Dr. Masaru Emoto revealed that water's structure changes depending on the intention (spoken words, written words, empathic intention, songs, ect.) directed onto the water (The Wellness Enterprise). Peaceful or harmonious words and music resulted in complex and beautiful configurations while vile and hurtful intentions resulted in basic and ugly configurations. This is a visual example of how our own words and others' intentions play an often invisible influence on our own wellbeing.

This influence can be either outside of the massage room or through the therapist's influence as well. This is why many therapists center themselves and maintain positive thoughts during your massage in order to give you the greatest healing possible through their work. As Chase and I articulate in our video on Emotion, this plays a large role in one's sense of ease or dis-ease (Relief by Chase).

Topical Receptivity and Pain Relief

Taking a shower or applying hot towels, primes muscles for the work about to be done. They help muscles and tissue relax, thus increasing their malleable receptivity to the physical manipulation of massage on tissue fibers. For some, hot and wet heat aid in pain relief when other methods fall short, as it did for Mike Fariss, a client of Chase's for over ten years, "Several years ago, I went through a siege with sciatic nerve in my back and leg.  His skills with massage, using hot stones and wet heat were the only thing that gave relief."

Hot towels can help ease sinus pressure, reduce soreness, soothe joint pain, speed healing, promote circulation, and encourage relaxation. The main reason of how this works is that the hot towels promote circulation which brings oxygenated blood throughout the body to help repair injured tissue which minimizes soreness and speeds up the healing process. At the very least, being mammals, heat and water are soothing to most of us and also promote relaxation, at times activating the parasympathetic system which also aids in our body's healing.

Conclusion

Water facilitates many beneficial operations in the body including ease of movement, organ function, joint lubrication, flushing out toxins, tissue repair, and cellular emotional influence among others. Water is a powerful and necessary tool to aid the body's natural processes. As MT works to manipulate the soft tissue, circulation increases, toxins are flushed out, range of motion increased, muscle cramps are worked out, and pain is soothed. Water also plays a crucial role in the benefits of massage therapy. Whenever in doubt, look to water as a viable resource.

Bruce Lee silhouette in front of snow-caped mountains and caption: Drink Water, my friend.

References:

Apec Water (2025). How Does Water Help Remove Harmful Toxins from Your Digestive Tract? [blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.apecwater.com/blogs/water-health/water-remove-harmful-toxins-from-digestive-tract?srsltid=AfmBOoqQe3_kmzRfYUk640sQvws3L24BnYWx8ZKVSEQMFaNvjdeDx2WZ

Harvard Health Publishing (2025). How much water should you drink? [blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-much-water-should-you-drink

Reiner, S. (2024, December 9). How Hydration Impacts Your Health, Performance, and Recovery From Injury [blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.limberhealth.com/blog/how-hydration-impacts-your-health-performance-and-recovery-from-injury

Relief by Chase (2023, March 6). Relief by Chase: Massage Therapy and Emotion [YouTube post]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ9fyuX044A&list=PLx4-nyMtbHW9AwEq7Egj4eJU8UCxdYnzj

The Wellness Enterprise (2017, March 23). Dr. Masaru Emoto and Water Consciousness [online blog]. Retrieved from https://thewellnessenterprise.com/emoto/

The Wilcox (2015, November 16). Hot towel therapy guide - The Willcox [YouTube post]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VutDPuUGSPU&t=33s

Towel Super Center (2025). How to Use Hot Towels in Massage Therapy [blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.towelsupercenter.com/blog/hot-towels-massage-therapy/#:~:text=Promote%20circulation%3A%20Heat%20applications%20often,towel%20would%20still%20be%20soothing.

WaterH (2024, December 15). Hydrate to Regenerate: Water's Role in Muscle Recovery [blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.waterh.com/blogs/news/hydrate-to-regenerate-waters-role-in-muscle-recovery?srsltid=AfmBOooCVWjVsyC72FJdHzb2JWrxrPm5g8BkED1hKoxC4UoP48eRPrwc

Additional Sources:

Alderton, M. (2021, August 1). Soaking in Success: Massage and Hydrotherapy [blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.amtamassage.org/publications/massage-therapy-journal/massage-and-hydrotherapy/

Judge, Lawrence W et al. “Hydration to Maximize Performance and Recovery: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Among Collegiate Track and Field Throwers.” Journal of human kinetics vol. 79 111-122. 28 Jul. 2021, doi:10.2478/hukin-2021-0065. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8336541/

Lorenzo, Isabel et al. “The Role of Water Homeostasis in Muscle Function and Frailty: A Review.” Nutrients vol. 11,8 1857. 9 Aug. 2019, doi:10.3390/nu11081857. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6723611/

Sadhguru (2012, Sep. 26). Water Has Memory - Sadhguru at IIT Madras (Part V) [video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C1p4HUHlfE 

The Wellness Enterprise, Inc. (2022, Sep. 23). Dr. Zach Bush Provides Insights on Water and Memory [video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYt-zRPiVlg