Massage Therapy for Improved Wellness

Massage is a popular way to pamper yourself, relax, and relieve stress. However, did you know that massage also has many health benefits that address severe medical conditions? If you have not sustained the expected results from other traditional interventions, try massage therapy for the benefits below.

Pain Relief and Management

You can give massage therapy a try for mild or chronic pain. The treatment relieves pain through several mechanisms. First, the therapist relaxes painful tendons, joints, and muscles. The hands-on approach to pain relief also encourages blood flow to sore muscles and joints. 

In turn, the blood transports nutrients to the stiff joints and promotes healing. Then, the massage disturbs the pain signals to and from the brain. Many people with chronic pain complain of tense muscles. Fortunately, massage therapy encourages tight joints and muscles to relax. 

The treatment relieves many kinds of pain, including back pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and post-operative pain. However, people with certain conditions like fibromyalgia find deep tissue massage painful. This is why massage therapists customize the degrees of pressure to your comfort.

Reduced Stress

To understand how massage therapy alleviates stress, consider what happens to your body during stressful periods. It is common to be anxious during high-stake life events such as applying for a promotion. 

However, chronic stress accompanies seasons of financial difficulties and uncertain times. In this case, your muscles tighten while the blood pressure and heart rate rise. Massage therapy is effective because it returns the muscles to their original state.

Moreover, the treatment lowers the heart rate and encourages the release of feel-good hormones. It also increases the temperature of the soft tissues, thereby reducing muscle tightness. As a result, you leave the massage table in an improved mood. You can also expect reduced irritability and enhanced overall happiness. Improved Mobility

Tense muscles restrict your range of movement, which is particularly frustrating for athletes and active people. Also, it may be painful and difficult to complete typical tasks around the home. For patients recovering from injury, regaining strength and mobility is among the priorities. 

Massage therapy encourages blood flow to overused or injured muscles and keeps joints more fluid. What's more, the intervention raises the temperature of soft tissues to promote elasticity and flexibility. In turn, the muscles and joints heal faster. Additional benefits include improved posture and enhanced athletic performance.

Address Sleep Disorders

The quality of your sleep directly alters your health and wellbeing. If you struggle to get restorative sleep, massage therapy is an effective solution. The treatment encourages serotonin production, which your body converts to melatonin. In addition to these two hormones, massage therapy reduces the stress hormone cortisol. Elevated cortisol levels lead to insomnia and other sleep disorders. Massage therapy balances all these hormones and results in better sleep and an improved attitude. 

Boost Your Immune System

Massage therapy heightens the body's immune response, which is vital to prevent flu and cold during winter. First, the treatment boosts the level of lymphocytes, which fight harmful substances. Then, massage stimulates the lymphatic and circulatory systems and improves the body's ability to remove toxins. 

Lymph maintains the body's fluid balance and transports healthy nutrients. On the other hand, the improved blood flow results in more efficient transport of the white blood cells. Since massage also reduces pain, you can expect an improved immune response. 

Massage therapy is a drug-free intervention to alleviate pain, improve sleep, restore mobility, and boost the immune response. Our therapists at Advanced Physical Therapy can answer all additional questions you have about the benefits of massage therapy. Contact our therapy team today to schedule an appointment.