There are multiple benefits to receiving massage and bodywork. Massage therapy (and, in general, the laying on of hands for health purposes) dates back thousands of years. References to massage have been found in ancient writings from many cultures, including those of Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Japan, China, Egypt, and the Indian subcontinent.

Scientists are studying massage to understand what effects massage therapy has on patients, how it has those effects, and why. Some aspects of this are better understood than others. For example, it is known that:

• When certain forces are applied to the muscles, changes occur in the muscles.
• Massage therapy typically enhances relaxation and reduces stress. Stress makes some diseases and conditions worse.

There are many more aspects that are not yet known or well understood scientifically, however. Some of the proposed theories are that massage:

• Might provide stimulation that may help block pain signals sent to the brain (the "gate control theory" of pain reduction).
• Might stimulate the release of certain chemicals in the body, such as serotonin or endorphins.
• Might cause beneficial mechanical changes in the body—for example, by preventing fibrosis (the formation of scar-like tissue) or increasing the flow of lymph (a fluid that travels through the body's lymphatic system and carries cells that help fight disease).
• Might improve sleep, which has a role in pain and healing.
• Might provide some health benefit from the interaction between therapist and patient.

As with other forms of healing, the benefits of massage therapy are most often experienced over the course of several sessions. While many clients experience benefits following a single massage therapy session, long-term benefits are most often found after several, regular sessions.