Massage Therapy, what is it good for? Absolutely… EVERYTHING!
Counting down some of my favorite top 5 reasons to get a massage.
5. IMPROVES SLEEP – lack of sleep can leave you feeling drained and unproductive at home or at work. On average, most adults need at least 7-8 hours per night to feel well rested. Due to stress or pain, some may find it very difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. Studies have proven that patients who receive massages regularly have an increase in serotonin levels. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that regulates the body’s need and ability to sleep.
4. DECREASES STRESS, ANXIETY AND IMPROVES WELL-BEING – Everyone experiences stress from time to time. We are human; it’s only natural. The body is designed to respond to stress through different ways and tightening of the muscles is one of those natural responses. Massage therapy has proven to slow your heart rate and decrease blood pressure. This helps increase the production of serotonin and endorphins(another “feel good” hormone) in the body. This all results in a better mood, clearer mind and an overall greater sense of well being.
3. HEADACHE RELIEF – just the tip of the iceberg. There are SO many conditions that massage therapy helps with. Arthritis pain back pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, neck pain, whiplash, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome are just a few of the many, many conditions massage therapy helps relieve. Headaches are my favourite to treat because usually a patient will come in with one and by the end of the session 9/10 times the headache will be gone or have definitely lightened up and is less severe. Tension headaches caused by tight muscles in and around the neck are pretty common. Within just a few minutes, some headaches can be relieved with a neck massage treatment.
2. RELIEVES MUSCLE SORENESS – Injured muscles will become tight or spasm. One of the body’s main defense if there is an injury is to tighten up the muscles to help protect any underlying organs or bones from becoming injured. Think of it as a shield, if you will. Those muscles become really tight which decreases the blood flow through the muscle tissue. Muscles need oxygen and nutrients, which gets carried in the blood and so when the muscle is depleted of these nutrients, they become sore and range of movement may become restricted. Massage therapy helps trigger the body’s physiological response by recognizing that these muscles are indeed lacking blood flow and helps increase the blood circulation with the massage strokes. It helps relax the muscle, re-set it’s tone and increase range of motion. This leaves your muscles soft, pliable and pain free once more.
1. IT FEELS GOOD! Many studies have proved that touch therapy has a lasting impact on our well being. Touch can be used as a tool for communicating empathy, and has an analgesic or pain relieving affect. I mean after all when we get hurt, our first instinct is to place a hand over that injury which does help soothe that pain. There is a theory called the Gate Control Theory of Pain that asserts that massaging a painful area helps close the “gates” to the pain sensation traveling to the central nervous system. Massage helps suppress that pain.
There you have it. My favourite reasons on the benefits of massage therapy. So what are you waiting for? Book a massage today!
Contact our front desk to book your massage today! 403-252-3316 or email info@activebacktohealth.com
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