The Benefits Of Massage
June 25, 2019
Massage therapy is a wonderful tool for treating a variety of ailments and can provide a wide range of benefits. While many people are aware of the fact that massage therapy can help you relax and soothe sore muscles, there are many benefits of massage that you may not be aware of.
While we have gone over many of the benefits of different types of massages in previous blogs, we wanted to discuss the benefits that massage, in general, offers. There are several different types of massage that target different benefits or problem areas, no matter which type of massage you choose, you can experience a ton of different benefits.
At Amazing Hands Day Spa in Bartlett, we offer a ton of different massage types that can provide you with specific benefits. You can learn more about our massage therapy services and schedule your massage today! In this blog, we are going to talk about the benefits of massage therapy, many of which are not as well known!
Promotes Relaxation
This is one of the benefits that people most commonly associated with massage therapy. Getting a massage, while it may be slightly painful at times, promotes relaxation throughout the body. Massage therapy can be relaxing for your mind, muscles, and body overall. Because massage helps promote relaxation, it also allows you to get a more restful night of sleep, which is a great benefit if you are an insomniac.
Improves Mood
Massage can help you relax and clear your mind, which will certainly lead to a boost in your mood and make you feel better mentally. But massage can do much more than that. It can actually help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. An article from Massage Envy mentions a study that found that massage is able to reduce the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in the body by as much as 53 percent. It can also increase serotonin and dopamine, which are the feel-good hormones.
An article from Best Health also discusses how massage can reduce feelings of depression and anxiety. A study found that women who were diagnosed with breast cancer and received massage therapy three times a week reported feeling less angry and depressed. Another study found that patients who were anxious or depressed felt much more relaxed and happy, with reduced levels of stress after massage. Whether you are anxious or depressed, massage could help reduce symptoms and boost your mood.
Increases Flexibility
Massage therapy can loosen your muscles and help them relax, which allows your body to achieve a full range of motion. Getting a massage can help you maintain and improve your flexibility by working muscles, connective tissues, ligaments, and tendons. Massage stimulates the production and retention of the natural lubricants between the connective tissue fibers, which help with flexibility and improves range of motion. No matter your age or physical activity level, flexibility is important and massage is one way to help you improve in this area.
Boosts Immunity
We are always looking for ways to boost our immune system and keep ourselves healthy for as long as possible. Another benefit of massage is that is can actually boost your white blood count, which plays a huge role in your bodies defense system and preventing disease. Massage can even improve immune function in people with HIV. Another way that massage can help boost your immune system is by stimulating the lymph nodes, which recharges your body’s natural defense system.
Improves Recovery After Surgery
One of the most important parts of a surgical procedure is postsurgical rehabilitation. The rehabilitation stage effect how successful a surgery is. Massage can help with this process in a number of ways. Massage can help increase circulation, improve joint movement, relax muscles, and increase flexibility. It has even been found to stimulate tissue regeneration and reduce swelling and adhesions after surgery.
Fights Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia comes with a ton of symptoms including muscle pain, tenderness, and fatigue. Symptoms can be brought on by lack of sleep and stress. Massage can help to alleviate muscle pain, discomfort, and spasms in patients who suffer from fibromyalgia. Since massage can also help reduce stress and promote better sleep, people with fibromyalgia can experience more relief from their symptoms. Massage is often used as part of the treatment plan for many people with fibromyalgia. The Massage Envy article mentions that about 40 percent of people suffering from fibromyalgia include massage in their treatment plan.
Lowers Blood Pressure
This benefit may seem obvious since massage can help reduce stress, but we think it is worth noting! High blood pressure can lead to heart attack and stroke, which can be deadly. One study that the Massage Envy Article mentions found that people who received at least three 10-minute massages a week had a lower blood pressure than those who just spent the same amount of time relaxing. If you are looking for more ways to lower your blood pressure, start scheduling more massages!
Reduces Symptoms Of Carpal Tunnel
Carpal tunnel is a condition in which the median nerve that connects the hand and the forearm becomes pinched in the wrist, which can become quite painful. Symptoms can include tingling, burning, numbness in the palm, middle fingers, and thumb. While most treatments for carpal tunnel include wrist braces, medication, and surgery, massage has been shown to help reduce symptoms as well! Carpal tunnel symptoms who received regular massage experienced less pain, improved grip, and fewer symptoms of their condition.
A Few More Benefits
There are many different conditions that can be improved by message and benefits that massage has to offer. While we covered a lot of them, there are more we want you to be aware of.
Other benefits of massage include:
- Relief of tension headaches
- Improves cardiovascular health
- Reduces osteoarthritis pain
- Reduces side effects of cancer treatment
- Reduces cancer symptoms
- Reduces effect of dementia
- Enhances exercise performance
- Improves quality of line in hospice care
Decrease Cancer Symptoms
Massage therapy is extremely beneficial for a variety of reasons and can help provide you with relief from symptoms from a number of conditions. Whether you simply want to relax and pamper yourself or you want to experience relief from your carpal tunnel pain, massage is a great choice.
Now that you know the many benefits that massage can offer and all the conditions that can be improved through massage therapy, it is time to schedule your massage! Our massage therapists at Amazing Hands Day Spa in Bartlett can you find the right type of massage for your based on the areas you want to target and the benefits you are looking for. Schedule a massage today and contact us with any questions you may have.
