Do you know the health benefits of massage? Getting a massage is extremely relaxing, and something that makes us feel ultra pampered and special. Massage is also beneficial to health, and is a proven treatment for many ailments and diseases. Massage is a general term for pressing, rubbing, and manipulation of the skin, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. There is deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, trigger point massage, and sports massage. Most massage therapists use their hands, arms, elbows, even feet, to perform the necessary parts of a good massage.
There are certain people who should not get massages, as they can do more harm than good. These people include those with bleeding disorders or taking blood thinners, people with open wounds, burns, those with deep vein thrombosis, fractures, severe osteoporosis, or severe thrombocytopenia.
Massage is highly beneficial to those suffering from anxiety, fibromyalgia, digestive disorders, headaches, sports injuries, temporomandibular joint pain, insomnia, sports injuries, paresthesias and nerve pain, and soft tissue strains or injuries.
Massage can help to manage anxiety and depression by lowering amounts of cortisol in the blood and boosting serotonin and dopamine.
Massage is highly beneficial to people who suffer from chronic pain, especially back pain. “We found the benefits of massage are about as strong as those reported for other effective treatments: medications, acupuncture, exercise and yoga,” Dan Cherkin, Ph.D., lead author of the study, said in a press release.
Massage has a positive effect on delta waves, which improves the body’s ability to achieve quality sleep. Massage also boosts the body’s immune system, helping to fight any disease process. PMS symptoms like bloating and cramping are lessened by massage. Your brain and alertness levels are also positively affected by massage.
A facial massage can increase your collagen production, helping you to look better and younger. Scalp massage improves hair growth and distribution of healthy hair oils from your scalp. Both of these will increase clearing of your lymphatic system and increase vitality.
People who are undergoing cancer treatment and are able to obtain massage therapy have less pain, fatigue, nausea, depression, and anxiety than those for whom massage is unavailable.
These are a few reasons to set up an appointment for a massage, or purchase a chair massager. If you cannot afford a massage and have one of the conditions listed please ask your doctor for a referral, and your insurance may help pay for it. Another option is to go to a massage school and have your work done by a student, much cheaper. If you have services available for trade quite often you can find a practitioner willing to barter.
Sources: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/08/massage-benefits-health_n_1261178.html#s672379&title=Related_Video
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/massage/SA00082
