Massage therapy is an invaluable asset when it comes to health and wellness, helping your body recover from pain or stress. Plus, it may even strengthen your immune system!
Massage not only lifts your mood, promotes restful sleep and helps with depression; in fact, a recent study discovered that women who received regular massages experienced less depression and anxiety than those without the treatment.
Relieves Stress
Massage therapy is an effective way to relieve stress and promote overall wellbeing. Studies have demonstrated that massage reduces levels of stress-related hormones like cortisol and epinephrine.
Furthermore, it releases feel-good hormones such as endorphins and serotonin into the brain. These neurotransmitters help reduce anxiety, prevent depression, and provide a general sense of well-being.
Massage has another advantage; it can reduce pain perception. This is likely due to the release of natural pain killers and feel-good hormones.
Massage has numerous physiological effects, such as decreased cortisol and epinephrine levels, relaxation, improved circulation and reduced tissue stiffness. Not only that but it can improve sleep quality and energy levels too!
Relieves Pain
Massage has the power to reduce pain by interrupting the cycle of discomfort and encouraging healing. While receiving a massage, skin and fingers create friction which encourages blood flow to the treatment area. Increased circulation helps transport oxygen and nutrients that support muscle repair.
Chronic pain conditions often present with muscle tightness and limited movement, leading to feelings of tension and stress. Massage therapy helps address this by increasing blood flow between fingers and skin which helps relax muscles and loosen them.
Additionally, this increases tissue elasticity and flexibility, enabling muscles to stretch to their full length, thus increasing range of movement.
In a study, participants who received massage experienced lower pain levels on a 1-10 visual analog scale. This may be because massage stimulates the release of dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins – all known for their ability to reduce discomfort.
Helps with Sleep
Studies have demonstrated that massage therapy can aid in improving sleep quality by modulating hormones. This includes decreasing cortisol, increasing serotonin, and dopamine levels.
Another key benefit of massage is that it stimulates melatonin production – a hormone signalling to your body when to sleep. This will decrease the need for nightly wake-ups and allow you to get more restful snoozes.
Sleep is essential for a healthy body and mind. Health experts emphasize that lack of shut-eye can lead to conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Fortunately, there are many ways to get the rest you need. One of them is giving yourself a massage before bedtime.
Helps with Depression
Massage therapy has been scientifically proven to be beneficial for individuals suffering from anxiety or depression. Studies have discovered that it reduces stress, increases serotonin levels and lowers cortisol in the body.
Studies have also discovered that massage therapy can effectively relieve the pain associated with injuries and general muscle tightness. It also helps release trigger points, which are tiny muscle spasms caused by overuse or repetitive movement.
Massage has also been known to reduce pain associated with osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, as well as alleviate headaches, low back and neck discomfort.
Chronic depression, which lasts longer than other conditions mentioned, should be closely monitored by a mental health professional during massage therapy. Because chronic depression can cause structural collapse and changes to endorphin levels, it’s essential that clients receive therapy from an experienced mental health practitioner so they can monitor how massage therapy affects their symptoms.