Head to Toe
8 full-body benefits for getting your regular massages- besides
feeling great
YOU LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REGULAR MASSAGE. Maybe
it relaxes you. Maybe it energizes you. Maybe it helps relieve the
tension in your back. Whatever it is, you know you like it. But
massage has more benefits than you probably realize.
"Regular massage keeps the body working at optimal levels," says
C.G. Funk, VP of industry relations and product development for
Massage Envy. "It keeps people well-physically and
emotionally."
Here are eight interesting benefits of massage
for your body.
1. Fighting Fibromyalgia Symptoms Fibromyalgia
is a chronic condition characterized by muscle pain, fatigue and
tenderness, according to the American College of Rheumatology.
Symptoms can be brought on or exacerbated by stress and lack of
sleep. Frequent
Fibromyalgia massages have been found to help relieve stress as
well as alleviate muscle pain, discomfort and spasms in patients
suffering from fibromyalgia. In fact, it's one of the most
effective complementary treatments, according to the National
Fibromyalgia Association, which reports that about 40 percent of
sufferers have used it as part of their treatment plan.
2. Easing Surgical Effects Postsurgical
rehabilitation is one of the most important aspects of undergoing
any procedure. And massage can help get you back on your feet by
increasing circulation, relaxing muscles, and improving joint
movement and flexibility. It's even been found to promote tissue
regeneration and reduce postsurgical adhesions and swelling,
according to the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals.
3. Improving Mood It's no secret that massage
can relax you and make you feel good mentally. But did you know
that it may even help treat anxiety and depression? According to a
review by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami
School of Medicine, massage is able to lower the body's level of
cortisol, a stress hormone, by as much as 53 percent. Massage also
appears to increase the feel-good hormones serotonin and
dopamine.
4. Headache Relief Approximately 28 million
Americans suffer from migraine headaches, according to the National
Headache Foundation. Often, migraines are triggered or exacerbated
by stress and poor sleep. In a study published in
the Annals of Behavioral Medicine, researchers found
that participants who received massages had better quality sleep
and fewer migraines than participants who didn't. Effects even
lasted up to three weeks after therapy ended. Massage therapy can
help relieve
headaches if you suffer from them.
5. Lowering Blood Pressure About 72 million
Americans have high blood pressure, which can lead to stroke and
heart attack. A study in the journal Biological Research
for Nursing found that people who had at least three 10-minute
back massages a week lowered their blood pressure more than people
who spent the same amount of time just relaxing.
6. Increasing Flexibility Whether you're an
avid athlete who is constantly putting stress on your knees or a
middle-aged adult who has lost some range of motion in your hips,
staying flexible is key. Massage can help you maintain flexibility
and range of motion by working the muscles, connective tissue,
tendons and ligaments, and by stimulating the production and
retention of the natural lubricants between the connective tissue
fibers.
7. Breaking Back Pain While back pain is one of
the most common reasons people seek massage, many are not aware of
just how helpful a treatment it is. In fact, a study in
theAnnals of Internal Medicine found that massage therapy
was more effective at relieving back pain than other therapies such
as acupuncture and spinal modification. It even appeared to reduce
the use of painkillers by 36 percent.
8. Curbing Carpal Tunnel Carpal tunnel is a
painful condition in which the median nerve that connects the
forearm and hand becomes pinched at the wrist, according to the
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Symptoms
include burning, tingling or numbness in the palm, thumb and middle
fingers. It can also lead to difficulty forming a fist or gripping
small objects. Treatments usually consist of medication, wrist
braces and surgery. But a study in the Journal of Bodywork
and Movement reported that carpal tunnel patients receiving
regular massage had less pain, reduced symptoms and improved grip
strength.
-By Shelley Flannery
-Photos by Jeff Newton