The Benefits of Massage Therapy

A Powerful Ally

There's no denying the power of bodywork. We can assign different names to it, like a pampering session, a rejuvenating retreat, or a therapy session. We can give different reasons for why we seek it out, such as a luxurious treat, stress relief, or pain management. No matter what people call it, massage therapy can be a powerful ally in your regular healthcare regimen.

When we are stressed, physically or mentally, our bodies are known to be more susceptible to illness and disease. We can exaggerate already existing issues as well as bring new ones to light. Many people believe that nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress. Massage can be an extremely effective tool in managing these stresses. We see it working in several ways, including but not limited to:

• A decrease in anxiety
• Enhanced sleep quality and reduced fatigue
• Improved energy and concentration 
• Increased circulation

Massage can also help specifically address a number of health issues. 

Some things bodywork is capable of include:

• Alleviating low-back pain and improving range of motion.
• Assisting with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shortened maternity hospital stays.
• Easing medication dependence by releasing endorphins—amino acids that work as the body's natural painkiller.
• Enhancing the body's immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body's natural defense system.
• Exercising and stretching weak, tight, or atrophied muscles that can be difficult for the individual to work on their own.
• Helping to prepare for, and recover from strenuous activities by relaxing and softening injured, tired, and overused muscles.
• Improving the condition of the body's largest organ, the skin.
• Increasing joint flexibility and reducing muscle spasms and cramping.
• Lessening depression and anxiety.
• Promoting tissue regeneration, which helps to reduce scar tissue and stretch marks.
• Pumping oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs by improving circulation.
• Reducing post surgery scarring and swelling.
• Relieving migraine pain.

In response to massage, specific physiological and chemical changes are known to cascade throughout the body with profound effects.  Research has and continues to show the enormous benefits of touch. These benefits range from treating chronic illnesses and injuries to helping to alleviate the tensions of modern life. The medical community is also actively embracing the benefits of bodywork in such a way that massage is becoming an integral part of recovery and care. Many hospitals are also incorporating on-site massage practitioners, as well as spas, to treat post surgery and pain patients in the recovery process.