Through the manipulations of the body's soft tissue and muscles, therapeutic massage relieves muscle aches and pains. This practice is often used in sports conditioning, but it can also be beneficial in a variety of other ways. Therapeutic massage can help with the following conditions:
- Anxiety and stress plague almost all of our lives it seems, with not only work or student stresses but also health and home life troubles. It sometimes seems a never ending struggle, until you try a holistic method of treatment with therapeutic massage being proven to help manage both your stress and anxiety levels, at the very least taking that edge off when you need it.
- Depression
- Relaxation
- A lack of sleep can be caused by a variety of different things, however two of the leading causes are anxiety and stress, which can both be combated with therapeutic massage as mentioned above, in turn leading not only to a better night's sleep, but a more fulfilling one.
- If you have ever struggled with flexibility or have a new range of motion problem, you can certainly benefit from therapeutic massage to improve the health of your joints.
- Immune system function
- Panic disorder
- Headaches/migraines
- Fibromyalgia
- Digestive disorders
- Relieves muscle aches and pains
Massage therapy involves manipulating the muscles by kneading, rubbing, pressing, or patting different muscle groups. Some of the techniques used include:
- Effleurage: This involves light or deep strokes intended to help relieve tension and induce relaxation.
- Petrissage: This technique involves kneading muscles and can be helpful for relieving muscle tightness or spasms.
- Tapotement: This involves tapping or cupping the skin to create a percussion effect.
- Friction: In this technique, the massage therapist applies small, circular, focused pressure to specific points on the body.
Massage therapists use their hands, forearms, and even elbows to work through various groups of muscles.
Therapeutic massage can help reduce muscle tension, which is why it may help relieve some symptoms that are associated with stress and anxiety.
Massage therapy can help the body relax, which in turn can help you let go of anxious and fearful thoughts. Massage can relieve muscle pain and tension, improve circulation, and increase flexibility.
As a relaxation technique, massage therapy can work to help manage the fight-or-flight response, or stress reaction, that is typically overactive among people with anxiety disorders.
Physical Benefits:
- Less muscle pain and tension
- Improved circulation and flexibility
- Lower heart rate
Mental Benefits:
- Fewer anxious thoughts
- Tamed fight-or-flight response
- Lower tension and more feelings of calm
