2. Five Benefits of Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is a field that
involves using manual techniques to
manipulate the soft tissues in the
body. This practice has been around
since the B.C. times. Researchers
have studied massage therapy for
several years and have found that it
offers a several potential health
benefits. Here are five of the many
benefits of seeing a registered
massage therapist on a regular
basis:
3. Migraine Relief
A migraine is an intense
headache that is accompanied with
sensitivity to light and nausea. The
pain of a migraine can last
anywhere from two to 72 hours.
Migraines are rarely caused by
anything serious, but they can
interfere with a person’s ability to
complete necessary tasks. Studies
have shown that massage therapy
can help alleviate the pain of a
migraine.
4. Migraine Relief
Massage therapy can help reduce stress, and stress
can trigger or worsen a migraine. Massage therapy can
also help improve blood circulation to brain. Furthermore,
massage therapy can help promote restful sleep. When a
person sleeps, his or her body heals itself naturally.
5. Back Pain Relief
There have been numerous
studies done to confirm that massage
therapy can help alleviate back pain.
There was one study done in 2003 on
patients who had suffered from back
pain.
6. Back Pain Relief
The results of the study showed
that massage therapy can reduce the
need for pain medication by up to 36
percent. The study also suggested
that massage therapy may be more
effective for alleviating back pain
than acupuncture.
7. Lower Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a
condition that affects
approximately 30 percent of
adults. If high blood pressure is
left untreated, then it can lead to
heart attacks, strokes and
blindness. There was a study
done in 1999 by the University of
Miami School of Medicine. The
study involved two groups of
hypertensive people.
8. Lower Blood Pressure
Half of the participants were
placed in a progressive relaxation
group while the other half were
placed in a massage therapy
group. The subjects who were
placed in a massage therapy
group were given two thirty-minute
massages per week. The study
lasted for five weeks.
9. Lower Blood Pressure
Both groups of participants had lower blood
pressures at the end of five weeks. However, the
participants in the massage therapy group had lower
blood pressures than the subjects in the progressive
relaxation group.
10. Anxiety
Anxiety is defined as a feeling
of worry or uneasiness. Everyone
feels anxious from time to time, and
that is completely normal. However,
chronic anxiety can have a negative
impact on a person’s life.
11. Anxiety
Studies have shown that a massage can help reduce
the amount of cortisol in a person’s body by up to 50
percent. An elevated cortisol level can cause a person to
suffer from anxiety.
12. Cancer
Cancer is a condition that occurs
when the cells in the body begin to
grow and divide uncontrollably. It is
estimated that one-third of men and half
of women will develop cancer in their
lifetime.
13. Cancer
Massage therapy can
benefit cancer patients by
alleviating some of the
symptoms of cancer. Regular
massages can also help boost
the immune system.
14. Further Reading…
• Grossbeak Chiropractic & Fitness is committed to your
well-being. Visit us online at http://grossbeakchiro.com/
to learn more.