Knead Pain and Stress Relief? Try Massage Therapy
As research on the benefits of massage therapy continues to grow, more people are turning to this ancient form of healing to improve their health.
Low back pain. Chronic neck pain. Depression. These are just a few of the reasons people are turning to massage therapy. Gone are the days when massage therapy was something people only enjoyed while on vacation or at a health spa.
“Massage therapy has been noted to relax the nervous system by slowing heart rate and blood pressure,” said Dr. Tiffany Field, who heads a touch research institute at the University of Miami Medical School. Much of her NIH-funded research has focused on the importance of massage for pregnant women and infants. “Stress and pain hormones are also decreased by massage, reducing pain and enhancing immune function.”
Research has shown that massage therapy can have a beneficial effect on a number of conditions:
- Pain – studies show massage may be useful for chronic low back pain, chronic neck pain and pain caused by osteoarthritis of the knee.
- Cancer – numerous studies suggest massage therapy can reduce and relieve pain, promote relaxation and boost mood in the short term for cancer patients.
- Mental health – several clinical trials have concluded that massages may help reduce depression and anxiety.
- Fibromyalgia – studies show massage therapy may help this long-term chronic pain condition.
People who have a medical condition should ask their health care provider which type of massage might benefit them. The hands-on form of healing has evolved over thousands of years to numerous variations, each with its own techniques and approach.
Today’s types of massage therapy include:
Swedish massage – a common type of massage designed to relax the body by using long strokes, kneading and deep circular movements.
Deep tissue or Trigger point massage – similar to a Swedish massage, but a more targeted approach to focus on muscle damage from an injury or any specific areas of concern.
Sports massage – releases tight, overworked muscles by combining deep tissue massage and Swedish massage techniques. Helps prevent injury by keeping the body flexible.
Injury/Rehab massage – promotes healing and can reduce recovery time by improving circulation of blood flow to injured muscles.
Pregnancy massage – helps women – after their first trimester – to relax and relieve strained muscles.
Sources: NIH News in Health, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
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