It is a well-known fact that stress can influence our health and well-being. Several health problems, including heart disease, obesity, diabetes, depression, and anxiety, are related to stress. However, did you know that just taking an hour or two of massage therapy can actually provide much-needed relief from stress? In fact, studies show that regular massage therapy offers long-term benefits.
What Is Massage Therapy?
Massage is the general term used to describe the act of manipulating, rubbing, and pressing your skin, ligaments, tendons, and muscles to reduce pain, stress, and muscle tension, with movements ranging from deep pressure to light stroking. The massage has long been a popular way of relaxation.
Massage therapy is when professionals use massage as a form of integrative and complementary medicine. This means it can be offered to treat a variety of medical situations and conditions alongside standard treatment.
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Massage Therapy: What Are Its Long-Term Benefits?
People seek therapy to achieve relaxation, pain relief, and physical and mental rehabilitation. As with other forms of therapy, massage therapy also offers long-term benefits.
- Reduces physical and emotional stress: Relaxation is one of the most well-loved benefits of massage therapy. The relaxation and calm you experience during and after massage are caused by the release of endorphins, which are hormones that make you feel good. Aside from this, massage also controls the hormones that induce stress, namely, cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine.
- Provides relief from depression and anxiety: Massage therapy promotes the release of dopamine and serotonin, two neurotransmitters that help reduce feelings of sadness and anxiety.
- Relieves muscle pain: Stress isn’t just something that’s “in your head.” Your body shows signs of stress, too, such as tense and stiff muscles, which can cause discomfort and even pain. Massage therapy improves and increases blood circulation, which in turn eases muscle pain, promotes healing, and improves flexibility.
- Eases joint pain: Regular massage therapy also loosens up tight joints. It promotes healing in sore and stiff joints by increasing blood flow to these areas.
- Prevents cardiovascular problems: Stress and anxiety are two conditions that contribute to fluctuating blood pressure levels, which in turn can have detrimental effects on your cardiovascular system. Massage therapy lowers your stress level, and when this happens, your blood pressure is regulated. This, in turn, helps you steer away from heart diseases, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems.
- Boosts your immune system: Stress has been found to be a contributing factor to the severity of illnesses. When you are stressed, your immune system weakens. Massage therapy, by contrast, can improve your white blood cell’s activity levels, which in turn strengthens your body’s ability to fight sickness.
- Helps fix and improve posture: A lot of things you do every day often involve repetitive tasks, which often lead to overuse of muscles and poor posture. Symptoms include persistent muscle, neck, and back pain. Chronic back pain, for example, can cause disability and can affect your quality of life. Massage therapy can help relax and loosen your muscles, which can then help your body ease into proper posture.
Conclusion
People often consider getting a massage a luxury. However, in today’s fast-paced and demanding world, resting and relaxing after a long day is a must. One way to do this is by getting a massage. More than “feeling great,” massage therapy can provide relief from various health problems and can improve your well-being, so you can live a long and happy life.