At MeanGirls Therapeutic we LOVE massage! We love talking about it, we love giving it and we love receiving it. We know that most of our clients feel the same way. Well at least when it comes to the latter… because it feels great, right? But have you ever wondered why it feels so good? Or why it is used to treat some many medical conditions? With these questions in mind and this being our first blog entry, it seemed only appropriate to discuss the health benefits of massage.
Unfortunately, there has not been a ton of research studies on massage, how it works and why. However, it is not debated that bodywork plays a vital role in managing stress, anxiety & depression. While these basic & obvious benefits are often talked about lightly “experts estimate that upwards of 90% of disease is stress related” (Massage Therapy
Online). Reducing stress can have a cascading effect of better sleep, concentration & emotional balance which are all pivotal aspects of overall health.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (www.nccam.nih.gov/health/massage) studies suggested massage can benefit the following conditions:
- Stiffness & pain of arthritis
- High blood pressure
- Chronic low back pain
- Chronic neck pain
- Depleted immunity
Massage can also be an answer to many exercise and sports related injuries by:
- Reducing spasms & cramping
- Relaxing injured, tired & overused muscles
- Increasing range of motion & joint flexibility
- Moving lymph which drains toxins from the blood
For anyone who spends their day driving, sitting at a desk, standing in place, lifting heavy boxes, caring for children or coping with chronic pain, bodywork “can be a powerful ally in your healthcare regimen” (Massage Therapy Online) from alleviating minor aches to overcoming injury; the fact that it feels good is just icing on the cake. While some massage is great, most studies also show that more is even better! So we should all make it a necessary part of our health & wellness plan. For more information, check out massage
research studies online.
Check out our blog next week as we begin to examine different massage modalities including what we mean by Deep Tissue Treatment Massage.
Sources:
The Mayo Clinic – www.mayoclinic.com/health/massage/SA00082
Massage Therapy Online – www.massagetherapy.com/learnmore/benefits.php
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine –www.nccam.nih.gov/health/massage
Holistic Online – www.holisticonline.com/massage/mas_and–health.htm
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