Benefits of Massage Therapy
If you have chronic pain or tension, occasional soreness or stiffness, or are simply looking to relax and de-stress, you could benefit from massage therapy. Keep reading to learn about some of the specific ways that massage can help to optimize your physical and mental wellbeing.
Reduces Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
Considering the busy state of the modern world, most people deal with some level of stress in their daily lives, but have difficulty finding ways to effectively manage it. Luckily, feeling deeply relaxed and rejuvenated is the most well-known benefit of massage therapy. These feelings have actually been backed up by scientific research. A 2004 study found that massage therapy reduces cortisol levels, a hormone associated with stress and anxiety, and increases levels of dopamine and serotonin, hormones associated with feeling happy, relaxed, and satisfied. When a person is under stress, their cortisol levels tend to get too high, and their dopamine and serotonin levels get too low, which manifests as anxiety and depression. Receiving regular massages is a naturally effective way to combat the stress of daily life, keep these hormones in balance, and improve mental health. Additionally, in today’s fast-paced society where we often don’t get to focus on our wellbeing as much as we’d like, the act of prioritizing self care and setting aside the time to get a massage can have benefits in itself.
Drug-Free Pain Reduction
Acute and chronic pain is considered to be the most common reason that people seek medical treatment. Besides the pain itself being a serious issue, it can also cause other, related problems with people’s physical, psychological, and social wellbeing. Unfortunately, the current standard treatment for pain is over-the-counter and prescription medications, especially opioids. However, opioids are known to be extremely dangerous. The body quickly builds a tolerance to the drug, so that over time, higher and higher doses are needed in order to get the same effect. This very often leads to abuse and addiction. As a result, there is an opioid crisis in the U.S., with Ohio frequently ranking among the top states in the nation for deaths due to opioid overdose. In an effort to combat this disturbing trend, many people who suffer from pain seek out alternative, drug-free treatment methods, like massage therapy.
Although future research is still needed, current studies generally conclude that pain and its related symptoms can be significantly improved by a massage therapy regimen that incorporates medium- to deep-pressure techniques. In fact, one study found that “massage can be at least as effective as [standard medical care] in chronic pain syndromes.” Many pain conditions, including fibromyalgia, arthritis, post-operative pain, migraines, and generalized neck, shoulder, and back pain, can be successfully managed with consistent massage treatments. Further, symptoms like stiffness and low range of motion, poor sleep, anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal, which can occur as a result of the pain, have also been shown to improve.
There are a few theories as to why massage therapy is effective for treating pain. The most basic is that the physical manipulation of tense, stiff, sore muscles and connective tissue helps them to relax, which reduces pain and restores their functionality. The mental relaxation and release of endorphins achieved by massage also reduces stress, taking the body out of “fight-or-flight” mode and releasing tension. Another theory regards something called “substance P.” Substance P is a neurotransmitter that is involved in signaling pain or discomfort to the brain. Some studies have shown that levels of substance P decrease during a massage, which leads to less pain. Other studies suggest the “gate-control theory,” in which there are multiple “gates” that signals must pass through in order to reach the brain. During a massage, the use of firm pressure is believed to send signals through an open “pressure gate,” which overrides signals that could pass through the “pain gate,” and keeps it closed. Although it sounds complicated, this is the same idea as when you bump your shin and automatically rub it: the rubbing sensation helps to block the pain.
Reduces Stiffness and Increases Circulation
The majority of people store tension around their neck and shoulders, but it is only after getting these areas worked on that they realize just how tense they were. Apart from having a tense neck and shoulders, all muscles can become stiff and tight when they are used too much or too little. Over time, it is easy to become accustomed to stiff, sore muscles, and accept that they simply don’t work the way that they used to. However, this doesn’t have to be the case! Massage therapy is one of the best ways to release tension from the body and loosen the muscles. By manipulating them directly, massages help to restore them to their original positions and functionality.
Another issue that results from the muscles being stiff and forming “knots” is reduced blood flow. Since the muscle tissue gets tight, it makes it harder for blood to move through them. Luckily, the act of massaging the body encourages circulation, which increases the amount of nutrient-rich blood that can reach problem areas and helps them to heal.
Prepare For Your First Massage Appointment
Review and complete the forms for your first massage appointment here.