Research shows that massage can be an effective way of treating various health conditions; however, it’s essential that any complementary and alternative therapies used should be disclosed to your physician.
Energy is one of the key reasons that massage falls under ‘complementary and alternative medicine’ category, yet existing studies on bodywork do not fully examine how energetic knowledges shape massage as bodywork.
Relieves Pain
Massage has long been recognized for its ability to relieve short-term pain relief, whether caused by injuries or chronic tension and stiffness in muscles and tissues. A massage from one of our professional therapists may even help manage stress more effectively!
A randomized controlled trial found that massage therapy significantly decreased neck pain and disability when compared with control groups, including significant improvements in the Neck Disability Index (NDI), which measures dysfunction in neck-related systems while providing global assessment of quality of life data. Patients in massage therapy groups used less pain medication compared with control groups.
Chronic pain is an incapacitating condition that impacts more individuals than both heart disease and diabetes combined. While traditional solutions have included using opioid prescription drugs for pain relief, such as addiction and abuse risks. Alternative therapies like massage therapy, osteopath-led spinal manipulation, acupuncture and yoga have proven successful at relieving chronic discomfort without their side effects – becoming increasingly popular with health organizations and government agencies who are searching for methods to alleviate chronic discomfort while improving quality of life.
Relieves Stress
Massage therapy is a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practice that involves manipulating muscles and other soft tissues to relieve stress. Studies have demonstrated its efficacy at decreasing cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, while simultaneously increasing serotonin and dopamine – natural mood boosters – which helps boost serotonin and dopamine levels and boost serotonin and dopamine. Furthermore, massage has also been shown to aid sleep quality as well as reduce feelings of anxiety or depression.
The stress response is the body’s natural reaction to any perceived threat, real or perceived, that causes activation of the autonomic nervous system and stimulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This triggers physiological reactions such as increased heart rate, respiration rate and blood pressure levels as well as mobilization of fuel stores as well as release of stress-associated hormones such as epinephrine and cortisol.
There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to managing a household budget. Here at IBC Bank we have extensive expertise and are on hand to assist our clients every step of the way – be it with debt collection services or financial advice – we offer an unrivalled service. Multiple research studies have demonstrated the efficacy of massage therapy on psychological and physiological measures of stress; however, none has offered definitive statements regarding its impact in any specific clinical or nonclinical population. Future research efforts must focus on large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with clear statistical findings and the ability to differentiate among various massage therapies and delivery methods (e.g. chair versus table); account for intertherapist variations; and examine effects on clinical and nonclinical populations. This will build trust in published findings, support replication efforts, and identify any mechanisms by which massage might reduce physiological symptoms associated with stress.
Reduces Inflammation
Massage can be invaluable in treating musculoskeletal injuries. In addition to relieving pain and stiffness, it can also reduce inflammation thanks to stimulating blood flow and lymphatic drainage. Early intervention with inflammation is vitally important as its presence can impede the healing process, slowing recovery.
Inflammation can arise for various reasons, including stress levels being elevated, coexisting health conditions, reduced physical activity levels and more. Left untreated, it can result in serious health consequences; massage is one way massage therapy can help manage pain associated with musculoskeletal injuries by increasing blood flow, decreasing inflammation and relaxing muscles.
Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of massage therapy for treating various injuries and conditions, such as muscle strains and sprains. Unfortunately, no concrete data exist regarding its ability to speed the recovery from more serious muscle and tendon damage – this lack of experimental data relating to more extensive muscle damage models being one reason – however animal models and indirect indicators have provided promising results regarding muscle recovery after injury. Furthermore, massage can prevent future injury by improving circulation and limiting tissue damage, so regular massage sessions as part of any athletic training regimen will help speed recovery faster while increasing performance long term.
Reduces Spasms
Massage therapy helps relieve spasms by manipulating soft tissues to relieve tension-induced pain. Common techniques used are Swedish, Deep Tissue and Neuromuscular Therapy (commonly referred to as Trigger Point Massage). Massage sessions may be tailored towards relaxation or to treat specific injuries/conditions.
Neuromuscular Therapy reduces pain by targeting myofascial trigger points that are sensitive to touch and often refer pain elsewhere in the body. Massage therapists then manipulate muscle attachments, muscle bellies and tendons in addition to targeting trigger points – providing long-lasting relief.
Study results revealed that massage can effectively decrease both intensity and duration of pain for several different painful conditions, including chronic neck and shoulder pain, low back and sciatic pain, migraines, postoperative and musculoskeletal pain and cancer pain. Furthermore, massage was found to decrease anxiety, depression and stress levels, increase energy and enhance sleep quality – among many other benefits.
Massage can be an excellent alternative to surgery and medication in treating multiple sclerosis symptoms and complications, providing a natural means of relieving many of them safely and naturally. Consult a doctor first before beginning massage treatment; for those looking for pain and spasticity relief through medical massage sessions in Tallahassee call Advanced Alternatives today – they specialize in comprehensive massage therapy that addresses root causes with research-backed methods that offer medical massage for pain.
Increases Flexibility
Stress, pain and injury can leave muscles tightening up and restrict range of motion. Massage therapy increases flexibility by lubricating joints and helping the body release endorphins that act as natural pain killers – all while relieving mental fatigue and increasing concentration. Medical massage has been found effective for both acute and chronic conditions like back, neck and shoulder injuries as well as arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome – it’s often recommended by physicians, chiropractors and physical therapists as a form of treatment.
One of the primary advantages is speeding venous blood back to the heart from extremities, helping flush out metabolic waste products like lactic acid and uric acid that accumulate in muscles over time and improving flexibility.
Newer techniques and equipment are helping therapists deliver more satisfactory results for their clients, such as electronic massage ‘guns’ which use vibrations to soothe muscles. There are also a wide variety of hand-held tools which allow therapists to target specific parts of the body with precise pressure.
Studies have revealed that combining static stretching and massage increases athlete flexibility, though massage itself does not appear to affect jumping performance in general. Athletes should take caution not to over-stretch prior to competition or training sessions and it would be wise for them to seek professional massage after athletic events in order to restore normal balance to their body and reduce any potential aches and pains.
Increases Endurance
Massage for athletes can help increase performance by eliminating restrictions and encouraging optimal function, preventing injuries and speeding recovery, increasing nutrient availability via improved circulation and optimizing oxygen and nutrient exchange between blood and tissue cells, as well as stimulating metabolic rates to burn more calories.
Studies conducted using surface electromyography (EMG), an EMG technique which measures electrical activity of muscles, have examined the effects of massage on muscle force, strength, speed and endurance. Most of the studies concluded that massage did not alter EMG results and did not place restrictions on sport type, technique duration or whether administered before or after workouts.
Many people choose a career as a massage therapist as an extra source of income on the side. This is particularly attractive to people who already have full-time jobs but need an additional source of revenue or have other responsibilities such as family ties that require additional income. Massage therapy offers ample flexibility and individualization as a potential path into self-employment – it’s perfect for entrepreneurs who enjoy feeling ownership over their business while enjoying freedom and self-determination that comes from running one themselves!
