Benefits of Massage Therapy

Massage is no longer a special, indulgent treatment offered at upscale health clubs. Massage therapy is often offered by hospital and chiropractic clinics as part of the healing process, though it is typically considered part of complementary and alternative medicine. Over the years, massage therapy has been offered along with standard medical treatment for a wide range of conditions and situations. Medical studies have shown that massage is an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain and muscle tension.

If you want to control stress, get better sleep, manage pain, improve your fitness and boost overall mental and physical wellbeing, massage therapy can significantly benefit you.

Types of massage:

• Swedish massage- A gentle massage that uses long strokes, kneading, deep circular movements, vibration and tapping.
• Deep massage- This uses slower, more forceful strokes to target the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. Deep massage is often used to help with muscle damage from injuries.
• Sports massage- This is similar to Swedish massage, but it is geared toward people involved in sports to prevent or treat injuries.
• Trigger point massage-A type of massage that focuses on areas of tight muscle fibers that can form after injuries or overuse.

General benefits:

• Physical relaxation
• Improved circulation
• Improved digestion
• Relief for tight muscles
• Release of nerve compression
• Greater flexibility and range of motion
• Enhanced energy and vitality
• Scar tissue healing
• Release toxins

Massages can help with:

• Anxiety
• Digestive disorders
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches
• Stress-related insomnia
• Myofascial pain syndrome
• Soft tissue strains or injuries
• Sports injuries
• Temporomandibular joint pain