Massage used to only be available at high-end spas or health clubs. Some people viewed it as a luxury for the wealthy or a code word for illegal activities. Now massage is widely available and viewed as an important tool in promoting mental and physical health.
Massage is a general term for pressing, rubbing and manipulating your skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Massage may range from light stroking to deep pressure. It’s generally considered part of integrative medicine.
Massage is increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations. If you have never tried massage, read on to learn about its many benefits.
A common misconception about massage is that it’s only part of a spa day and intended for pampering yourself. While this may be true for some people, it is most frequently a tool for stress reduction and pain relief.
Some specific conditions that massage can help include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Digestive disorders
- Fibromyalgia
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Nerve pain
- Postoperative care
- Scar tissue
- Soft tissue strains and injuries
- Sports injuries
- Temporomandibular (TMJ) disorders
Physical benefits
For most patients, massage therapy is an important part of specific medical treatment plans to help them return to daily activities. For example, massage therapy is helpful after joint replacement surgery or injury.
Physical benefits of massage include:
- Improved circulation
- Decreased muscle stiffness
- Decreased joint inflammation
- Better quality of sleep
- Quicker recovery between workouts
- Improved flexibility
- Less pain and soreness
- Strengthened immune response
Mental benefits
Massage also has many mental health benefits. Even people who are focused on the physical benefits say they feel less stressed after getting a massage.
Other mental benefits include:
- Lower stress levels
- Improved relaxation
- Improved mood
- Decreased anxiety
- More energy
- Increase feeling of wellness
