Massage is an ancient therapy and it has stuck around this long because simply put, it works. The hands of trained practitioners use a variety of techniques to break down scar tissue, improve circulation in your body and relieve you of muscle tension. Techniques such as trigger point therapy can help increase your range of motion and using the proper pressure, can help the knots in your muscles relax. Trigger points are those nodules in your body that hurt when pressure is applied to them, and the pain radiates out of them into another part of your body. This is called a "referral pattern."
Some other benefits of massage therapy are:
- Maintains posture and body balance
- Increases the flow of nutrients to the cells and bones in your body
- Eliminates or prevents muscles adhesions and scar tissue resulting from injury
- Dilates blood vessels (improving circulation)
- Sedates or stimulates the Nervous System
- Can free impinged nerves
- Aids the Digestive system as a mechanical cleanser, aiding constipation
- Affects elimination of fluids (aiding in problems with swelling)
- Stimulates endorphin production (which is chemically similar to and about 5-10 times stronger than morphine!)
In addition, experts estimate that upwards of ninety percent of disease is stress-related. And perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress. Massage is an effective tool for managing this stress, which translates into:
- Decreased anxiety.
- Enhanced sleep quality.
- Greater energy.
- Improved concentration.
- Increased circulation.
- Reduced fatigue.
Massage can also help specifically address a number of health issues. Bodywork can:
- Alleviate low-back pain and improve range of motion.
- Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten maternity hospital stays.
- Ease medication dependence.
- Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body\'s natural defense system.
- Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
- Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.
- Improve the condition of the body\'s largest organ—the skin.
- Increase joint flexibility.
- Lessen depression and anxiety.
- Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
- Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.
- Reduce postsurgery adhesions and swelling.
- Reduce spasms and cramping.
- Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.
- Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body\'s natural painkiller.
- Relieve migraine pain.
