The Benefits Of Massage
What exactly are the benefits of
receiving massage or bodywork treatments? Useful for all of the
conditions listed below and more, massage can:
Alleviate low-back
pain and improve range of motion.
Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten
maternity hospital stays.
Ease medication dependence.
Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body’s natural
defense system.
Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous
workouts.
Improve the condition of the body’s largest organ—the skin.
Increase joint flexibility.
Lessen depression and anxiety.
Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving
circulation.
Reduce postsurgery adhesions and swelling.
Reduce spasms and cramping.
Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.
Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body’s natural
painkiller.
Relieve migraine pain.
A Powerful Ally
There’s no denying the power of bodywork. Regardless of the
adjectives we assign to it (pampering, rejuvenating, therapeutic) or
the reasons we seek it out (a luxurious treat, stress relief, pain
management), massage therapy can be a powerful ally in your
healthcare regimen.
Experts estimate that upwards of ninety percent of disease is stress
related. And perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and
externally, than high stress. While eliminating anxiety and pressure
altogether in this fast-paced world may be idealistic, massage can,
without a doubt, help manage stress. This translates into:
Furthermore, clients often report a sense of perspective and clarity
after receiving a massage. The emotional balance bodywork provides
can often be just as vital and valuable as the more tangible
physical benefits.
Profound Effects
In response to massage, specific physiological and chemical changes
cascade throughout the body, with profound effects. Research shows
that with massage:
Arthritis sufferers note
fewer aches and less stiffness and pain.
Asthmatic children show better pulmonary function and increased peak
air flow.
Burn injury patients report reduced pain, itching, and anxiety.
High blood pressure patients demonstrate lower diastolic blood
pressure, anxiety, and stress hormones.
Premenstrual syndrome sufferers have decreased water retention and
cramping.
Preterm infants have improved weight gain.
Research continues to show the enormous
benefits of touch—which range from treating chronic diseases,
neurological disorders, and injuries, to alleviating the tensions of
modern lifestyles. Consequently, the medical community is actively
embracing bodywork, and massage is becoming an integral part of
hospice care and neonatal intensive care units. Many hospitals are
also incorporating on-site massage practitioners and even spas to
treat postsurgery or pain patients as part of the recovery process.
Increase the Benefits with Frequent Visits
Getting a massage can do you a world of good. And getting massage
frequently can do even more. This is the beauty of bodywork. Taking
part in this form of regularly scheduled self-care can play a huge
part in how healthy you’ll be and how youthful you’ll remain with
each passing year. Budgeting time and money for bodywork at
consistent intervals is truly an investment in your health. And
remember: just because massage feels like a pampering treat doesn’t
mean it is any less therapeutic. Consider massage appointments a
necessary piece of your health and wellness plan, and work with your
practitioner to establish a treatment schedule that best meets your
needs.
