Massage, as a health practice, has many researched therapeutic effects on the body. One primary effect of massage is stress relief. Experts estimate that upwards of ninety percent of disease is stress-related; and perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress. Massage is an effective tool for managing this stress. This effect is evident in lower blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, and stress hormone levels in clients after receiving massage. This translates into:
- Decreased anxiety,
- Enhanced sleep quality,
- Greater energy,
- Greater emotional balance,
- Improved concentration,
- Increased circulation, and
- Reduced fatigue.
Massage also plays an important role in soft tissue treatment. It increases circulation, especially in the skin and underlying connective tissue. It can support recovery from muscle overuse or injury, assist in rehabilitation after surgery, and help to treat acute or chronic muscle pain. Massage is also known to increase range of motion and flexibility, while decreasing muscular tension and adhesions, making it an ideal application for various situations ranging from athletics to pain management.
Massage can also help specifically address a number of health issues. Bodywork can:
- Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten maternity hospital stays,
- Ease medication dependence,
- Encourage healthy digestion and metabolism,
- Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles,
- Improve the condition of the body's largest organ—the skin,
- Improve respiration, in the case of asthma or other breathing conditions,
- Increase immunity by stimulating lymphatic flow,
- Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks,
- Reduce post-surgery adhesions and swelling,
- Reduce spasms and cramping,
- Relieve migraine pain, and
- Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body's natural painkiller.
These and numerous other benefits of massage make it well worth considering as a part of any health care plan.*
*Contraindications and modifications to massage may be involved in certain situations. These can be discussed with your therapist.
