Therapeutic massage can be extremely helpful for anyone suffering from muscular skeletal conditions, including injuries. Not only can therapeutic massage help improve blood circulation and eliminate toxins, but it can also alleviate stress.
Massage therapy is considered complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the US. It is practiced by holders of M.D. or D.O. degrees as well as their allied healthcare professionals.
Relieves Stress
Massage has been shown to promote relaxation, alleviate anxiety and boost well-being. Furthermore, studies have demonstrated how massage helps improve sleep patterns, stimulate immunity and decrease chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. Furthermore, massage provides relief for musculoskeletal conditions like backache, neck stiffness and stiff muscles – as well as decreasing fatigue and depression associated with chronic pain disorders.
Research has demonstrated that massage reduces stress hormone production while simultaneously increasing feel-good hormones such as serotonin and dopamine production, thus decreasing cardiovascular rate and blood pressure, heart rate, salivary cortisol production and catecholamines production immediately following one massage treatment; however multiple sessions do not produce sustained reductions of these measures.
Massage has been proven to decrease both overall levels of stress, as well as specific emotions such as fear and anger that arise due to it, such as fear. Furthermore, massage therapy may help lessen pain by interfering with how the brain sends pain signals – possibly through endorphins and encephaline produced during massage therapy sessions.
Massage has proven effective for treating mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, according to practitioner reports. They report that patients become more inclined to discuss difficult psychological issues when they’re less anxious, feel good about themselves and have developed trusting relationships with their massage therapist.
Massage has many health benefits; however, before beginning any type of massage program it is vitally important that people speak to their doctors first. Some conditions, including those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or goiter (an enlarged thyroid gland), chemotherapy treatments or radiation may not respond as expected to massage therapy; additionally it would be wise to steer clear if having high fevers, low platelets/white blood cells levels, recovering from surgery or are taking antidepressants/anticoagulants that could interfere with massage sessions such as antidepressants/anticoagulants/anticoagulants etc.
Relieves Pain
Massage therapy offers several key advantages over painkillers that are readily apparent: eased muscle tension, increased circulation and relaxation of the nervous system all contribute to decreased back and neck pain, headaches, fibromyalgia symptoms and other forms of chronic discomfort. Massage has no adverse side effects that strong painkillers might bring along with them – unlike these strong medications which often become habit-forming over time.
Massage releases endorphins that block pain signals from reaching the brain. Furthermore, massage can trigger your natural pain-relief chemicals such as cortisol and serotonin that act to relieve muscle soreness. Massage has also been proven to improve immune system functionality resulting in less inflammation and greater biochemical balance.
People often experience immediate relief after just one massage session, while for others relief may take multiple sessions to achieve. Although individual results can differ greatly, regular massage has generally proven helpful in alleviating muscle and joint pain caused by arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia; sports-related injuries; as well as chronic fatigue or tension.
Studies suggest that massage can also ease the distress associated with cancer diagnosis, by decreasing both frequency and severity of chemotherapy- or radiation-induced nausea and vomiting. Furthermore, one recent study demonstrates how regular massage can significantly lower inflammatory cytokine levels produced by cells which lead to inflammation in cancer patients being treated for breast and colon cancers.
Massage therapy can also relieve the tension and stiffness associated with spinal arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, muscular dystrophy and other health conditions that cause pain. Furthermore, massage can alleviate stress-induced fibromyalgia symptoms by increasing circulation throughout the body.
Eastern cultures believe that pain stems from an obstruction in energy channels known as Chi or Q, and massage therapy can help relieve it by unblocking these channels. Acupressure (Chinese massage), often combined with herbal medicine for even greater pain relief, is one such form of massage therapy used for this purpose.
Improves Blood Circulation
Heart, lungs, muscles and other body tissues require adequate blood circulation in order to provide them with oxygen, nutrients and waste products that they require for survival. Massage improves this circulation by dilatanting small surface capillaries resulting in the reddening of your skin after receiving a rubdown session. In addition, massage increases muscle and tendon circulation allowing fluid movement throughout the body more quickly.
Massage has an immediate, beneficial impact on circulation, which in turn has a marked decrease in blood pressure over time. If you suffer from high blood pressure, however, it’s wise to consult your physician prior to getting a massage treatment plan; additionally it should not be performed if you have blood disease or are pregnant.
Massage stimulates your parasympathetic nervous system, which works to balance stress with its “fight or flight” response. Massage releases dopamine and serotonin hormones which makes your heart beat faster while increasing blood flow to extremities. Furthermore, massage promotes the release of enzymes that break down waste products produced during exercise in order to decrease post-exercise muscle soreness.
Researchers believe massage can have significant health benefits; researchers note its use improving mood in those living with fibromyalgia, alleviating depression in cancer patients, decreasing pain and swelling due to rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, relieving chronic low back pain sufferers’ backaches, decreasing sprains and strains that contribute to fibromyalgia symptoms as well as decreasing sprains and strains for relieving them, increasing energy, easing chronic constipation issues while increasing range of motion in injured people.
At first, your massage therapist will evaluate your condition and discuss what you hope to gain from massage therapy. Once settled on a table – fully or partially clothed or undressed – she’ll use oil as protection from friction on your skin while performing techniques such as effleurage, petrissage and kneading as well as passive stretching/movement and active exercises taken from physiotherapy, osteopathy and chiropractic movements. As needed, she may modify treatment based on your ability or limitations.
Improves Sleep
Sleep is essential to overall health. Insufficient rest has been linked with chronic disease and mental illness. Massage therapy may help improve sleep by relieving stress and stimulating the natural sleep cycle of the body.
Researchers conducted a study on insomnia among postmenopausal women and discovered that after receiving massage treatments for insomnia, most participants experienced improved sleeping patterns as measured by polysomnography. This included reductions in REM latency and stage 1 sleepiness along with increases in stages 3 and 4. Furthermore, symptoms such as anxiety and depression subsided upon completion.
There’s no clear-cut explanation as to how massage therapy helps people sleep, but one theory suggests it by stimulating serotonin release – a precursor of melatonin which regulates circadian rhythm and sleep/wake cycles. Massage may also stimulate vagus nerve, which tells our bodies to relax resulting in reduced cortisol levels that could otherwise disrupt our sleeping cycles.
Massage helps enhance sleep by increasing circulation. This can reduce pain that often interferes with restful slumber, as well as providing oxygen and nutrients needed by muscles and tissues for normal function. Massage improves both blood flow and lymphatic drainage to ensure the body gets all of the energy it requires to function optimally.
Massage therapists utilize various techniques to provide relaxation and enhance sleep quality, such as long strokes, kneading, rubbing, circular motions and tapping. Some therapists may even employ reflexology – which involves applying pressure directly onto feet or hands – as another relaxation strategy.
Though massage can seem indulgent, studies have demonstrated its numerous health benefits for physical and mental well-being. If possible, try including it into your bedtime ritual to improve quality of sleep. If not possible to visit a professional masseur or therapist directly, there are ways you can perform self-massage at home using tools like massage balls and foam rollers.
