Claims & Benefits of Massage Therapy
For some people, the word "massage" still carries connotations of sex-for-hire or conveys images of wealthy people with time on their hands indulging in pampering luxury treatments. Increasingly, however, the health benefits of massage are being touted not just by massage therapists but by mainstream health professionals. Massage therapy has been endorsed as a treatment for those with serious chronic illnesses and people recovering from surgery by no less an authority than the Mayo Clinic.
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Pain Reduction
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Massage therapy helps heal lower back pain. Massage enhances range of motion in stiff joints and sore muscles while easing muscle tightness. It can reduce or even eliminate muscle spasms and cramping. In addition to the easing knots out of tight, painful muscles, massage combats pain by promoting the release of endorphins, the your body's natural painkillers. Migraine sufferers report lower levels of pain after receiving massage.
Circulation and Immune System
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Massage increases blood flow to muscles weakened from disuse because of injury or prolonged illness. Massage also stimulates lymph flow, enhancing the immune system's ability to fend off illness. Blood samples taken from med students at the University of New Jersey who received massage therapy revealed higher white cell counts, another marker of a strong immune system.
Mental and Emotional Benefits
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Anxiety and depression are well-known to contribute to an overall decrease in health. Massage therapy benefits mind as well as body, reducing insomnia while enhancing concentration and energy levels. The University of New Jersey Medical School study showed students who received massage before an exam experienced a decrease in anxiety as well as lowered respiratory rates indicative of a calmer state.
Other Healing Benefits
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A 2002 study by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine showed that pre-term infants who received massage treatments gained weight more rapidly than a control group that did not get massage. The Mayo Clinic and other health authorities recommend massage as an adjunct treatment for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or taking prescription drugs.
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References
- Photo Credit massage therapy at the spa image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
