Diversion: How Massage Therapy Helps in Your Daily Life

Preface from Mark, “Mantic59” of Sharpologist.  I get pitches for “guest posting” all the time.  About 99.9 of the requests get deleted without a second thought, but occasionally something interesting comes along.  In this case, the benefits of massage therapy.  No, this is not about the “touchy-feely” thing from some place in the sketchy side of town.  I’ve been getting massages from a licensed therapist regularly for years and I really do think it has made a positive difference in my physical and mental health.  

Massage therapy is useful to practically everyone, regardless of age or profession. It is administered to athletes before and after athletic activities, and is used to cure and frequently prevent injuries. It also assists with stretching muscles and fibers, improving flexibility.  And its applications do not end here. Massage therapy is known to reduce tension and stress and make it more pleasant to come back to work everyday especially for someone who sits behind a desk for hours. Massage is simply one of the most effective techniques to help reduce the symptoms of mental health problems such as anxiety or insomnia and allow you to obtain a pleasant and quiet night’s slumber.

Benefits

Consider how your body hurts and your brain throbs after a long day at work. Your feet may hurt, but then you slide into a space with peaceful, calming music and a moderate trickle of water from a water feature. Many Americans have professions or live lives that require them to sit for long periods of time. This may wreak havoc on your muscles and health, causing stiffness and soreness. Massage treatment may relieve tension and remove knots in your muscles, helping you to feel more calm and energized.

Massage is known to provide a range of benefits. Here are some of the ways massage therapy and acupuncture from qualified professionals help in your daily life.

#1 Promotes Muscle Relaxation

For individuals who are in general discomfort, massage therapy is an excellent alternative. A qualified massage therapist will be able to identify the source of your pain and develop a massage therapy plan to assist you find relief. The massage therapist will be able to target the area of your body that is causing you pain or stress and will be able to help release the tight muscles.

Massage therapy’s goal is to address the root of the body’s discomfort by relaxing stiff muscles, enhancing flexibility, and relaxing the afflicted muscles as well as the body as a whole. Massage also improves circulation to the diseased or injured muscles, bringing more nutrients and oxygen to the damaged areas. As a result of the increased activity at the afflicted regions, stiffness and edema (swelling) in the muscles and joints are reduced, as is flexibility, which helps to relieve discomfort. Furthermore, this type of treatment produces endorphins (pain-killing chemicals), which increase dopamine and serotonin levels in the body. These hormones help the body in a variety of ways, both physically and mentally. For example, they stimulate healing, pain management, and euphoria, as well as helping to relax the nerves.

#2 Improves Posture

A lot of Americans suffer from back, neck, and muscular discomfort due to a number of causes. The major cause of this discomfort, however, is improper posture. In fact, improper or bad posture when standing and/or sitting is frequently the cause of chronic back pain, which is the leading cause of missed work days and the second leading cause of disability. Furthermore, being overweight, poor posture, and repeated or overuse motions can all lead to back pain and other possible problems. As a result of the additional strain, spasms, soreness, and tight muscles in the hips, glutes, back, neck, and legs are common.

Massage treatment can assist in restoring the body’s natural alignment. In fact, one of the most useful and calming components of massage treatment is improving one’s posture. Massage assists the body to relax and release muscles that have become stiff and painful as a result of poor posture. As a result, the body is able to assume its natural and pain-free posture. The muscles of the body are loosened and relaxed as part of a continuous massage treatment practice. Furthermore, the joints have more mobility, flexibility, and range of motion, and pressure spots are alleviated. As a result, the body is able to assume a natural and healthy posture. In summary, massage therapy aids in the correction of postures and motions that have formed as a result of discomfort over time.

#3 Helps Getting Rid of Toxins and Promotes Sleep

Massage assists activating the soft tissue in your body. This stimulates your lymphatic system, which aids in the removal of toxins from your body. This is why it is critical to drink plenty of water after your massage to allow the toxins to be removed.

Also, massage is known to help you sleep since it completely relaxes the body. To put things into perspective, massage relaxes your muscles and helps your thoughts to calm down enough to fall asleep soundly. As an added bonus, you will feel more rested and invigorated in the morning.

#4 Improves Blood Circulation

The long-term advantages of massage treatment should not be overlooked. Improved circulation is part of the snowball effect that happens in the body as a result of continuous massage therapy. This is due to the fact that adequate circulation provides injured, tight, and tense muscles with the abundant blood flow they require to repair.

Furthermore, massage improves circulation by using hands-on pressure to flow blood through damaged and congested parts of the body. The relaxation of this same pressure, in turn, encourages fresh blood to flow into tissues. Furthermore, the massage technique’s squeezing, twisting, and pushing action eliminates lactic acid from the muscular tissues. As a result, this activity enhances the circulation of lymph fluid, which transports metabolic waste products away from internal organs and muscles. As a result, blood pressure is reduced and general bodily function improves.

#5 Reduces Feelings of Overwhelm

There may be no better way to unwind than a day at an acupuncture clinic. Surprisingly, a good massage can have long-term impacts on your levels of negative emotions. In fact, a recent study done by Chang Gung University discovered that massage helps relieve tension and boost confidence.

Constant discomfort and pain can be very strenuous. Not only is it very annoying but can become extremely dangerous if neglected. Massage and acupuncture have proven to be effective in helping people feel more calm and relaxed. When the body is tight and stressed, it creates dangerous quantities of the well-known stress hormone cortisol, which may lead to weight gain, insomnia, digestive issues, and headaches. Massage has been demonstrated to lower cortisol levels in the body. This allows the body to enter a state of recuperation. Furthermore, this type of therapy produces long-term emotions of relaxation, enhanced mood, and lower stress levels.

#6 Assists in Reducing Lower Back Pain

Low back pain is no laughing matter. It is the largest cause of disability globally, and almost 8 out of 10 Americans will experience back problems that interfere with their everyday lives at some point in their lives. Only a few medical therapies have been shown to consistently improve back pain, and it is regarded as one of the most overtreated disorders in American medicine.

The good thing is that several recent studies show massage as a potentially effective treatment of lower back pain. Massage relieves pain in the body by releasing muscular tension and enhancing flexibility. This can assist to minimize your reliance on pain relievers. Massage might help you heal faster if you have strained your back or neck.

Conclusion

Just like shaving, massage not only makes you feel good but is also extremely good for your health. Making therapeutic massage a regular part of your health regimen might be a terrific option, with advantages that touch both the body and the mind so pleasantly! If you want to improve your health and wellbeing, the best course of action you can take is by finding a reputable acupuncture or massage clinic near you. The aforementioned massage advantages are merely the tip of the iceberg. A competent massage therapist can help you achieve the relief you seek. Just be sure you select a certified and competent massage therapist. Cheers to good health!

 

Author Bio

Dr. Alexander Ezzati is a Board Certified Acupuncturist and Herbalist located in Encino, CA. My approach is to re-balance the body and achieve relief without the need or use of harsh pharmaceutical drugs