.. Be aware that massage causes chemical changes in your brain. These changes help to reduce both pain and stress in your body. The specific part of your body that hurts does not have to be touched. For example, say you don’t like another person touching your lower back. You can ask the masseuse to concentrate on somewhere you do feel at ease instead. The pressure in those spots transmits a signal to your brain and creates a chemical reaction. Give it some time and your other muscles will relax too.
—Secaucus New Jersey News, Secaucus, New Jersey, Aug. 9, 2011