Causes of Pain in Soft Tissue

Ischemia - lack of blood and oxygen caused by muscular hypertonicity (spasm)

Trigger points -areas of increased metabolic waste deposits which excite segments of the
     cord and cause referred pain or sensations to other parts of the body

Nerve entrapment and/or compression - pressure on nerves by soft tissue (muscle, tendon,
     ligament, fascia or skin) or by hard tissue (bone or disk)

Postural distortion - when the body's alignment deviates from anatomically correct position
     in coronal, sagittal or horizontal planes

Nutrition - the intake of nutrients necessary for cellular metabolism and the exclusion of
     nutrients irritating and stimulating to the central nervous system

Emotional well-being - in a word, stress

There are several ways in which massage will influence pain stimulation and pain perception. One way is through the physical removal of the waste products from the muscle tissue. As the body is kneaded, stroked and heated, blood flow is increased, taking oxygen and nutrients into the area. The waste products are removed, reducing the affects of the pain inducing chemicals. This removal of the chemical neurostimulators, is perhaps the most well understood explanation.

1Excerpts from Judith (Walker) DeLany, LMT