Saturday, 14 November 2009
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The Benefits of Massage Therapy
Most people don't really know what massage therapy is or what it can do for you. Many people just think that it's something to treat yourself and don't actually know the medical benefits of massage. I wanted to write a brief article detailing what massage can do for a person.
Massage Therapy helps you relax and unwind. There are many wonderful aspects to receiving massage therapy on an ongoing basis such as relieving stress, encourage relaxation, improve circulation, relax your muscles, improve posture, lower blood pressure, improve flexibility, relieve headaches, stengthen the immune system, and many others. The following are just a few examples of how we can do this:
- Massage Therapy Relieves Stess: Research studies show that massage therapy boosts the immune system which in turn lowers levels of stress since the immune system is no longer compromised. Having massage therapy on a regular basis can help increase energy levels, reduce pain and improve your overall performance.
- Massage Therapy Increases Circulation and Lowers Blood Pressure: A person with poor circulation can suffer from: pooling of blood in the extremities, cold hands and feet, fatigue and achiness. Good circulation brings oxygen to the muscles so that they can heal. Increased circulation causes pressure to build which helps move new blood in to the area, helps move lactic acid away from muscles, and improves lymph fluid circulation. Lymph fluid carries metabolic waste away from muscles and integral organs, resulting in lower blood pressure.
- Massage Therapy Helps Relieve Headaches: About 60% of Americans suffer from chronic headaches and migraines. Headaches and migraines are usually a result of high levels of stress or a lack of sleep. Massage helps migraines and headaches in two ways: by keeping the body relaxed through regular massage visits and by releasing pressure brought on by migraines. By loosening the muscles in the head, neck, and shoulders we can lower pain levels brought on by migraines.
A few among many ailments massage therapy can help with:
- Allergies
- Fibromyalgia
- Insomnia
- Arthritis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Anxiety and Depression
- Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)
Have you ever had massage therapy or any kind of massage? Did it help your health at all, or did it just relax you?
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Comments (8)
I LOVE massage!!! And im really good at giving a massage!!! any one up for one?
massages are free and often available at my college's community health collaborative center =)
I used to work for a massage therapy school and scored a few free massages. They were great and always made me feel better. Swedish massages are very relaxing.
My back is a mess and I've been looking into a deep tissue massage. They're a little painful from what I hear but so worth it in the end.
good post, though I do think there should be a post dedicated to a brief description of the different types of massages that people commonly get, too. because I think there are more people who aren't informed about the different kinds and how differently the other types can help your body.
i love going to thailand for massage haha. they help me relax and release the muscle tensions
After my car accident I got massage therapy along with physio... It was Therapy though... not relaxing at all. Yes it helped with the pains I had incurred from being in the accident, but it was definitely a deep tissue massage, not one of those wimpy spa ones.
I have horrible back pains so I'm always up for a massage.
I love massages!!! For a few years I was going on a regular basis. This routine kept my headaches at bay.