Pain Relief: Pain relief: the massage therapist should pay close attention to the areas of concern in the patient's body before, during and after the massage. Techniques used during the massage have the ability to alleviate any suffering caused by pain or stress. Of particular interest to the therapist are methods that can relieve the pain of a pain-spasm-pain cyle, which is indicated by ischemia decreased blood flow to the area within a muscle). A proper therapeutic massage increases the blood flow to an area, creating pleasurable sensations where there was previously only marked pain. The nerve endings carry these signals to the brain, causing the overall feeling of calmness and relaxation throughout the body. To combat ischemia, the massage therapist should focus on breaking the pain-spasm-pain cycle and increasing mobility in that area. Through therapeutic palpations, the exact area of pain can be identified. The therapist can then focus the massage in that area, reduce the amount of lactic acid within the muscle and introduce oxygen and other nutrients to help speed healing - MBLEx Exam Prep Team, Mblex Study Guide 2016