Common Health Problems: What Can Massage Therapy Do For YOU?

Massages are often sold as a purely indulgent treat that you get when you visit a spa or go on vacation, but there’s so much more to massage than just a feel-good treat. Did you know that the symptoms of many health problems can be reduced and even eliminated with regular massage therapy? 

Here are a few conditions that massage can work really well on; a few you probably already know and some that may surprise you!

Stress

It’s no surprise that a regular dose of massage therapy is good for your stress levels. It works by helping to lower your blood pressure, improve your quality of sleep, and by reducing your stress levels, it’s also thought to help reduce the risk of heart disease.  In 2008 the journal Psycho-oncology published a study which came to the conclusion “…a significant reduction in cortisol (the main stress hormone) could be safely achieved through massage, with associated improvement in psychological well-being.”

Lower Back Pain

This is such a common problem, often caused by bad posture at work, so no wonder many employers are drafting in massage therapists to help. Poor posture, sitting for too long, and just simply aging can cause a lot of lower back problems. Get your massage therapist on the case and you can hopefully wave goodbye to a sore back.

Sports Injuries

Fitness and sports are great for your health but they can sometimes lead to injuries and overworked muscles. A regular massage can help to heal any wear and tear on your muscles and tendons, and can also help you manage the pain from a chronic or acute sports injury. Having well looked-after muscles may also help prevent future injuries – one more reason to book those regular sessions.  At Enlightened Harmony, we also offer modalities such as cupping, taping, and IASTM, which are all extremely beneficial for sports injuries and preventative care.

Joint Stiffness

Massage can be a blessed relief for people dealing with the pain and stiffness associated with arthritis and other joint problems. Research published in 2013 in the Complementary Therapy in Clinical Practice journal said that people with rheumatoid arthritis reported some relief from pain and stiffness after four weekly, moderate-pressure massages, topped up with self-massage at home in between treatments. Massage can also help with your range of motion and flexibility, which can relieve pain in your joints such as shoulders, knees, and hips.

Circulation

There is a whole range of health problems that can be caused by bad circulation, so it figures that boosting your circulation will be a bonus for your whole body. Regular massage helps to get the blood moving, getting essential nutrients to where they are needed in your tissues and vital organs much faster. The squeezing and pulling actions involved in a good massage also help to flush lactic acid out of your muscles and improve the circulation of lymph - the fluid that carries metabolic waste away from your muscles and internal organs.

Migraine symptoms

Nobody really knows what causes migraines, and there isn’t a cure, but if you’re a migraine sufferer you’ll be pleased to hear that studies have shown that massage can help reduce the frequency of attacks and lessen the severity of the symptoms. Some migraines, especially those triggered by stress, are especially receptive to massage treatment.  If you come to your appointment at Enlightened Harmony with a headache or migraine, please let us know!  You will have the option to add aromatherapy that has been shown to reduce migraine pain at no extra cost.

Skin Cancer

Of course, we wouldn’t tell you that massage cures cancer; it can’t. But in some cases, your massage therapist can notice abnormalities in your skin that you can’t see or just haven’t picked up on, and alert you to them. Massage therapists see the majority of your skin, even those areas you can’t, like your back. We are trained to notice things like bumps, irregular marks, and abnormalities in your skin during your sessions, as well as any changes over time on repeat clients. Regular massage can also be good for your skin as it gets the circulation going and the nourishing oils used in a treatment help to keep skin feeling soft.

Allergies 

A massage helps to stimulate lymph flow around your body, which boosts your immune system and can help to reduce the severity of allergic reactions.  Sometimes a therapist might be able to tell just from your lymph nodes if you are an allergy sufferer as they can feel tender or swollen.

Did any of those surprise you? Of course, you don’t need to make an excuse for wanting a massage, but if you are dealing with any of these health issues, it’s good to know that your regular massage habit is helping.