A little touch might be just what you need if you’re feeling tense, stressed, or in pain. The practice of massaging your skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments is known as massage, and it has been used for thousands of years in numerous cultures to treat, soothe, and massage therapy for mental health is very necessary.
Today, massage is more frequently provided in addition to standard care for a variety of illnesses and conditions, including mental health problems. The Mayo Clinic has been incorporating massage therapy into the hospital setting for almost 20 years because they understand the importance of it as a component of wellness.
You could unwind with a massage. However, it can’t heal all of your ailments. And if done improperly, it might hurt you. It can be easier to have a safe and enjoyable massage if you do your research beforehand.
What makes it successful?
There are many factors that make massage effective. The first step involves the structured and deliberate manipulation of muscles and tissues. This motion can improve posture, body alignment, and pain management. Additionally, massage uses the strength of human touch. The environment has an impact on the therapeutic effects of massage as well. For illustration:
Most massages take place in a calm, secure environment.
Aromatherapy is frequently employed to promote relaxation or treat symptoms.
Calm, peaceful music often plays during a session.
Plants and other natural elements may also be included, supporting ideas of health and healing.
The majority of massage therapy studies have revealed that consumers report feeling better overall. Several studies indicate that massage has beneficial effects on the body, such as a reduction in some stress hormones like cortisol. People enjoy massage because it frequently involves caring, comfort, a sense of empowerment, and a connection with a massage therapist, in addition to its specific therapeutic benefits.
Despite its many advantages, massages shouldn’t take the place of traditional medical treatment. Inform your doctor that you are trying massage, as you should with all complementary therapies, and make sure to stick to your regular treatment schedules.
What the study finds
Effectively reducing stress, pain, and muscular tension is massage. The body’s natural painkillers, endorphins, are released during massage, according to research. Moreover, it can lower heart rate and may possibly have an effect on immunological system. Benefits in particular areas include:
- Mental health and wellness —Massage therapy has advantages for a number of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety and stress. Additionally, studies show that massage therapy can aid persons with SAD by elevating mood and boosting vitality.
- Pain: Chronic low back and neck pain, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis of the knee, burn rehabilitation or discomfort from scar tissue, and pain following heart surgery can all be treated with massage.
- Fibromyalgia — In terms of treating pain, massage research has focused on fibromyalgia in particular. If massage therapy is used long-term to treat fibromyalgia symptoms, researchers see potential benefits.
- Heart health – Massage therapy may be beneficial from a preventative perspective in addition to alleviating post-heart surgery discomfort. Stress management and blood pressure reduction, both of which can improve heart health, have been linked to massage therapy.
- Aging – Massage treatment helps manage chronic pain and addresses the aches and pains associated with getting older. Regular massage enhances stability and relaxation, and even mitigates the symptoms of dementia, hypertension, and osteoarthritis, according to research.
- Cancer patients who receive massage therapy may experience less pain, happier moods, greater relaxation, and better sleep. Finding a qualified massage therapist is crucial since they must take extra measures while working on cancer patients.
Massage conclusion
Massage is generally beneficial, but not everyone should receive it. See your doctor first if you have experienced a heart attack, have a bleeding issue, or are taking medicine that thins the blood. See your doctor before getting a massage if you recently had a blood clot in your leg, or if you have recent burns, fractures, or severe osteoporosis; in these circumstances, massage may be dangerous. Massage should not be applied directly on tumors, and people who are mending wounds or have nerve damage should refrain from applying pressure to the body’s affected regions. Although that while receiving a massage, you shouldn’t experience any severe pain, certain types may leave you feeling a little sore the next day. Ask for softer pressure if a massage therapist is applying too much force. Also read about: Is There a Benefit to the Mental Health of Receiving Massage?
