Benefits of Massage Therapy

Keep stress, inactivity, and low energy from stealing your health and wellbeing. Knowing how regular massages can benefit your wellness will help you live a better, healthier, and happier life.

yourfootpalace.com gathered information on the benefits of massage therapy and how it can change your life for the better.

What is Massage Therapy?

Massage therapy is defined as muscle and other soft tissue manipulation (as by stroking, kneading, rubbing, or applying pressure with one or both hands or an instrument) by a massage therapist for therapeutic purposes.

Massage Therapy in Medicine

Massage is typically considered part of integrative medicine. Nationwide, medical centers are offering it more frequently as a supplemental treatment along with standard treatment. Massage therapy may be used for a wide range of medical conditions.

Massage Benefits

Massage therapy can benefit anyone’s health and wellness, but it can also help those with conditions like cancer, heart disease, stomach problems, and fibromyalgia. Those with a medical condition should talk to their therapist about it before your first massage session. Here are some of the benefits of massage therapy:

Massage Reduces Stress and Anxiety – The calm feeling you experience after a massage aids in significantly reducing stress and anxiety. Consider that the body has two nervous systems:

• The sympathetic nervous system driving the “fight or flight” response in stressful situations
• The parasympathetic nervous system focusing on routine operations that lead to rest and relaxation.

Massage therapy can increase the parasympathetic response, which decreases feelings of stress and anxiety.

Massage Lessens Fibromyalgia Symptoms – Using massage therapy over a five-week period can reduce the impact of fibromyalgia symptoms (a chronic illness causing muscle and joint pain and extreme fatigue).

Massage Relieves Pain – For those undergoing cancer (and other medical) treatments, the physical and emotional anxiety can be overwhelming. Regular massage therapy sessions are known to significantly increase relaxation and improve one’s quality of life.

Massage Reduces Muscle Tension and Pain – Massage helps lessen pain like:

• Acute back pain
• Neck pain
• Headaches
• Knee pain (knee osteoarthritis)
• Hand arthritis
• Sports injuries

Receiving a 60-minute massage multiple times per month will likely produce better results than fewer or more random massages.

Massage Can Improve Mental Health and Awareness – Massage therapy offers benefits for several mental health conditions, including:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress

Research also demonstrates that massage helps those with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) by improving one’s mood and significantly boosting energy levels. 

Massage Therapy Can Strengthen Relationships – Whether it be friendship or the love of your life, a shared massage therapy experience can significantly deepen your relationship and sense of trust in each other.

Read more about the benefits of couples massages at yourfootpalace.com/everything-to-know-about-couples-massage/

Massage Relieves Tension Headaches – Massage decreases the frequency and severity of tension headaches. A single massage therapy session immediately affects perceived pain in those with chronic tension headaches.

Massage Therapy Can Help You Lose Weight – Deep tissue massage promotes lymphatic flow and circulation, which significantly contribute to detoxification and weight loss. Combined with a regular exercise regimen and a well-balanced diet, massage therapy can help reduce the body’s excess fat and weight.

Surprising Benefits of Massage Therapy

It is common knowledge (and no surprise) that a well-applied massage can help you relax. However, massage therapy also has the following surprising benefits:

Massage Can Relieve Constipation – For those dealing with chronic constipation or constipation resulting from surgery, an abdominal massage may help restore more regular bowel movements.

Massage Boosts Immunity – It has been found that massage therapy boosts white blood cell counts, which play a significant role in defending the body from disease.

Massage Improves Sleep Habits – Regular massage encourages restful sleep. It also helps those challenged when trying to comfortably rest. Massage also promotes relaxation and sleep in those undergoing medical treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy,

Massage Counteracts Postural Stress – For those who work sitting down or spend long periods in a sitting position, more advanced forms of postural stress can appear as pain or weakness in the lower back and glutes caused by long periods of sitting. Massage can efficiently counteract this stress caused by sitting.

Known Benefits of Massage Therapy

In this article, you discovered essential information about commonly known and surprising massage therapy benefits.

Scheduling regular massage therapy sessions can lead to a staggering reduction in your stress and anxiety, leaving you more prepared to cope with the stressors of day-to-day life, injuries, and medical conditions.

Ignoring the need for massage therapy can leave you stressed and anxious over trivial matters and potentially suffering from debilitating nerve and muscle pain.

Sources:
arthritis.org/health-wellness/treatment/complementary-therapies/natural-therapies/benefits-of-massage
mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/massage-therapy/about/pac-20384595
health.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-of-massage/
betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/massage
nuhs.edu/patients/health-information/articles/top-5-health-benefits-of-regular-massage-therapy/