The Health Benefits Of Massage Therapy
There are many ways that one can choose to unwind and relax. One of the most popular methods used is massage therapy.
Usually, a massage is used for general relaxation or to address pain specific to a certain site. It can also be used to address the range of motion issues.
Regardless of the reason, there is sufficient research to suggest that massage therapy can help one’s physical and mental health.
The Benefits Of Massage Therapy
Massage therapy has many benefits. Some of the most prominent include enhanced energy, physical relaxation, improved circulation, the release of nerve compression, and relief of tight muscles.
Here is how your entire body can benefit from a good massage:
1. Induce Relaxation
Perhaps the biggest immediate benefit of massage therapy is the relaxation you may experience.
The reason why massages help you feel relaxed is because of the purpose of massage therapy. The goal is to target a source of the body’s pain by eliminating muscles that are tense.
It is also designed to increase flexibility while providing relaxation to muscles that happen to be affected.
Once this takes place, muscles will become less tense. This also causes a chain reaction of sorts as the body releases endorphins, a special hormone designed to eliminate pain.
Serotonin and dopamine levels increase in the body and these hormones will assist the body in a variety of physical and emotional ways.
You can read more valuable information on this topic from the Wellnesscouncil.
2. Improves Circulation
Another reason why massage therapy benefits the body greatly is that it can help improve circulation.
Having good circulation is essential for your body in order to adequately perfuse your major organs.
If you do not have good circulation, your body will not have the oxygen and nutrients necessary to perform. It can also result in lethargy and exhaustion.
Massaging promotes circulation, and with the increased blood flow to affected muscles, necessary oxygen and nutrients are transferred over to the damaged tissues.
In turn, this circulation will help replenish tense muscles with rich blood supply to promote healing.
The body requires increased circulation in order to promote healing, and massages can promote circulation through hands-on pressure. All of this blood flow will be aimed at congested areas of the body.
This will also carry metabolic waste products away from major muscles and organs.
Blood pressure will decrease and overall bodily function will improve as a result.
3. Boosts Immune System
Your body requires a very powerful immune system in order to fend off foreign bodies and potential infection.
When you get sick, your immune system may be compromised to an extent. That is why it is important to ensure that it is always at optimal health.
Massages are a great form of alternative therapy that will sustain your immune system.
Some may wonder how a massage can influence the body’s main mechanism of protection.
Studies have indicated that massages can boost the immune system’s cytotoxic capacity while enhancing the body’s ability to deliver nourishment to the rest of the body.
One main factor to consider is that those who are constantly stressed are more prone to getting injured or sick.
Getting a massage can greatly relieve the stress the body experiences.
4. Improves Posture
Getting regular massages can also help you improve your posture.
Unfortunately, there are many Americans who suffer from pain radiating from their neck, back, and other major muscles.
Many may attribute these pains as a result of injuries or blunt trauma. But a lot of them can actually be attributed to having consistently poor posture. This includes standing or sitting in an unnatural way for extended periods of time.
The added stress of putting your body in these awkward positions results in pain, tense muscles, and spasms that can permeate in your back, hips, glutes, legs, and neck.
Massage therapy has the capacity to not only correct these positions but correct the movements that are developed over time in response to the pain.
5. Lowers Blood Pressure
Having massages have also proven to help lower blood pressure levels.
Long-term studies have shown that a consistent massage therapy regimen is sufficient to help reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
At the same time, massages can also lower the amount of cortisol (a stress hormone) within the body.
High blood pressure is often associated with poor lifestyle habits and anxiety. Massages can help lower the latter to a great degree. This helps because lowering anxiety will help lower your overall blood pressure.
In addition, if you keep a consistent regimen, it can also reduce the sources of anxiety. This can include feelings of tension, depression, and hostility.
Ensuring that you have your blood pressure under control is vital because it can prevent adverse cardiovascular events that may take place down the line such as heart disease or a stroke.
As you can see, getting regular massages can help in a variety of ways, not only physically, but mentally as well.
Whether it is easing the tension that may be resident in your muscles or relieving the stress that may be impacting your daily life, getting a massage is a great way for you to unwind.
The effectiveness of massages has been justified by studies and research, and you may want to consider it a regular part of your life for the reasons listed.
Therefore, if you are ever feeling stressed, or if you feel that there is an aching pain, a massage may be just what you need.
