Massage has long been thought to be a luxury or only meant for the wealthy to enjoy. Indeed, many people still consider massage as a way to pamper themselves once a year or as part of their relaxation on a spa day.
However, a growing body of research has shown that massage therapy can offer a myriad of benefits for our health.
Here are the massage therapy benefits you can enjoy when you incorporate it into your health and wellness routine.
1. Reduces Stress and Boosts Your Mood
Massage therapy can benefit your mental health. A massage stimulates the secretion of 'feel good' hormones like endorphin, serotonin, and dopamine while reducing the stress hormone cortisol. These 'feel good' hormones reduce stress levels and relieve anxiety and depression, thereby elevating your mood and your sense of well-being.
2. Relieves Pain
Pain relief is one of the most significant health benefits of massage therapy. Studies suggest that massage eases muscle tension, beats inflammation, increases blood flow, and interrupts the pain cycle, providing lasting pain relief.
Some popular massage techniques that your massage therapist may suggest based on your needs and goals include therapeutic massage, trigger point massage, or deep tissue massage.
Massage therapy is recommended for conditions like chronic pain, back pain, neck pain, knee pain, tension headaches, nerve injury, and joint pain conditions like arthritis.
3. Improves Sleep
Massage therapy reduces pain which in turn promotes a better quality of sleep. The American Massage Therapy Association quotes a study Conducted on 30 adults with low back pain who received massage therapy for five weeks. The participants reported less pain, less anxiety, and experienced improved sleep.
4. Alleviates the Negative Effects of Cancer Treatments
Some cancer medicines can cause peripheral neuropathy which is accompanied by pain, numbness, muscle weakness, and cramping. Healthcare professionals may recommend massage therapy to cancer patients as an alternative and complementary medicine to help them cope with the symptoms. Massage can also relieve stress, improve sleep, elevate mood, and improve overall quality of life.
6. Relieves Muscle Soreness After Workouts
Getting a massage after a workout not only feels good but also offers other health benefits like increased circulation leading to less muscle soreness. For instance, a Swedish massage or lymphatic massage focusing on soft tissues can help reduce pain and decrease muscle fatigue thereby shortening recovery time. Other deep tissue massages like sports massage can reduce muscle tension, relieve pain, promote healing, improve exercise performance, and prevent sports injuries.
7. Improves Circulation in Pregnancy
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, there are numerous massage benefits for pregnant women. They include better sleep, improved circulation, reduced anxiety, reduced labor pain during childbirth, alleviated back pain, and postoperative pain after childbirth.
To allay any fears, massage is recommended for any low-risk pregnancy. A massage therapist ensures the mother-to-be is comfortable and uses light to medium pressure to allow her to enjoy the full benefits of massage.
8. Relieves Constipation
When you experience constipation, abdominal massage therapy may be just what you need to restore your normal digestive tract function. Not only does it increase the frequency of bowel movements, but it also eases pain and discomfort.
9. Helps to Relieve Fibromyalgia Symptoms
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that causes muscle pain, fatigue, brain fog, and insomnia. Massage can help reduce muscle tightness, increase relaxation, fight depression, and improve sleep making it easier to cope with the flare-ups.
10. Improves Feeling of Wellness
The combination of all the health benefits of massage therapy including boosting your immune function, reducing pain, relieving stress, and coping with health conditions overall gives you a boost of energy and a higher sense of well-being.
Experience Result-Oriented Massage Therapy At Modern Mindbody Massage
For massage therapy services designed specifically for you, call Modern Mindbody Massage. With our variety of massage therapy modalities and enhancements and a team of highly specialized massage therapists, we are confident that you can enjoy the benefits of massage therapy with us. Call us or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment.