Seven Major Benefits of Regular Massage Therapy
Seven Major Benefits of Regular Massage Therapy
Did you know that there are dozens of physiological benefits to receiving one massage? It doesn’t just feel good, massage therapy can change your health and it can change your life. Although a lot can be accomplished and achieved in one massage therapy session, ideally everyone should experience a massage therapy session at least once a month to maximize the gains of benefits between sessions. Here we share 7 significant benefits to receiving massage and bodywork regularly.
Massage Therapy Benefit #1: Strengthens Immune System
The lymphatic system is the main part of the body’s immune system. Lymph nodes create beneficial white blood cells and destroy viruses and bacteria. But in order to circulate these beneficial cells and remove bad ones, the lymph vessels of the body must be pumped. Unlike the circulatory system of blood, there is not inherent pump mechanism like the heart to push the lymph fluid through the body. The body is reliant on the contraction of muscles and gravity to circulate the lymph. Massage is also extremely effective at moving lymph through gliding strokes. By flushing the lymphatic system, organs are stimulated to be efficient and high functioning and helps peak the immune system’s performance.
Massage Therapy Benefit # 2: Improves Health of the Skin
The skin is the largest organ of the human body. And like the other internal organs in the body it is important to have it healthy and high functioning. By increasing circulation to the skin, massage moisturizes not only with the lubricating medium used, but by allowing more blood flow to move through the skin, nourishing and hydrating the tissue. Massage can reduce the appearance of cellulite by releasing adhesions in the underlying fascia to smooth fat deposits. Massage can minimize the appearance of wrinkles by fluffing the skin, moving lymph, and retraining the skin to stay taut. Collagen, which keeps the skin firm and elastic, is degraded by the stress hormone cortisol, so by reducing stress through massage, your skin can keep its youthful look and feel.
Massage Therapy Benefit # 3: Increases Flexibility and Range of Motion
A flexible body is paramount to proper mobility and high quality of life. Age, injury, and misuse all lead to inflexibility over time. Massage therapy can help regain flexibility and range of motion in many ways. Massage loosens the connective tissue called fascia that surrounds every muscle, joint, bone, and organ in the whole body. Massage manually stretches muscles, tendons and ligaments and can break up scar tissue that causes restrictions in motion. Massage also increases lubrication to the joints, making it a great therapy for arthritis.
Massage Therapy Benefit # 4: Reduces Stress and Blood Pressure
Cortisol is a stress hormone that can have many negative consequences on the body. Released in response to stress, it increases blood sugar, suppresses the immune system, and decreases bone formation among many others. Although important in certain situations for short periods of time, clearly this is a hormone you do not want hanging around. But due to the risk of chronic stress lives, we are at the mercy of consistently high levels of cortisol. Cortisol also increases the blood pressure by sensitizing the vasculature of the cardiac system to epinephrine and nor epinephrine, hormones that constrict blood vessels and are also released from stress. A ground breaking study by the National Institute of Health found that cortisol levels were significantly decreased after a traditional Swedish massage. This is most likely due to the relaxation effect of massage with activation of the “rest and digest” nervous system which negates the stress response. With reduced cortisol levels, the blood vessels that were constricted and in risk of developing further issues such as plaque and cholesterol build-up, are now dilated, relaxed and the blood pressure drops to healthier levels with reduced risk of blockages.
Massage Therapy Benefit #5: Aids in Weight loss
In today’s society, people on average carry more fat than we should, and the fat is distributed in unflattering and unhealthy ways. Each of our bodies has a unique “set weight” that we thrive and feel at our best. Massage encourages the body to move towards the set weight by stimulating the body to perform as a whole and becomes more open to lose weight when necessary. Massage also detoxifies the body which is an important part of any weight loss process, and certain techniques can smooth fatty areas so we can look at our best as well as feel at our best. On the other hand, massage also stimulates the body to put on weight when the body is unhealthily underweight, as in the case of pre-mature babies, cancer and AIDS patients.
Massage Therapy Benefit # 6: Improves Posture
There is a saying among massage therapists: “Bones go where muscles take them, Bones stay where muscles keep them.” The purpose of a muscle is to pull on a bone to make it move from the joint. Therefore, depending on the condition and flexibility, a muscle can change the way bones set. If a muscle is tight or contracted it will pull on a bone and misalign the body. Since massage therapy can increase flexibility and relax muscle contractions, it is conducive to maintaining proper posture. A good practice is after every chiropractic adjustment to receive massage therapy to relax the muscles, and allow them to readjust to the new positioning; otherwise the muscles can misalign the bones again. Stress can also be a culprit to degrading your posture overtime. Long term high cortisol levels lead to osteoporosis because it blocks bone formation, thus weakening the structure of the spine and supporting bones. Since massage therapy reduces cortisol levels and overall stress, it can help prevent the onset of osteoporosis.
Massage Therapy Benefit # 7: Reduces Depression and Anxiety
Here in the Berkshires almost everyone battles with the depression monster during the tough winters. It is so common in fact that this timing of depression has been given a name: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). But depression is also something that every people of every culture around the world experience. It is a billion dollar industry to help relieve depression, and yet one over looked treatment is massage therapy. The body craves human touch and thrives from receiving it. Massage therapy nurtures the body and is a comforting experience. Human touch creates a reflexive reaction causing the brain to release endorphins which elevate our mood and lighten our hearts. In the case of anxiety, massage can be very grounding, bringing a person into the present and back into their own bodies. Massage calms the nervous system by breaking the body’s stress response and allowing true relaxation to occur.
