Who doesn’t love a good massage? Getting a massage is a relaxing experience that many people enjoy. As a bonus, it offers a plethora of both mental and physical health benefits. Below, we’ll explain some of the top benefits of massage therapy.
Reduces Stress
If you’ve ever received a massage, you’ve probably noticed that the experience helps you relax, not only during the massage but also for several days afterward. During a massage, your body produces less cortisol, which is a hormone that causes stress. In turn, it also produces higher levels of endorphins, hormones that improve your mood and prevent stress and pain.
Eases Pain
One key benefit of massage therapy is the pain relief that it offers. Massages often reduce pain from injuries, chronic diseases, exercise, and the tension from stress. A professional massage therapist or a specific program on a massage chair will ease pain at specific points of the body.
Improves Sleep
Have you ever found yourself drifting off during a good massage? Because they promote intense relaxation, massages can improve sleep both during a massage and in the days afterward.
Increases Immunity
One of the more surprising of the top benefits of massage therapy is its ability to increase the strength of one’s immune system. Some massage techniques stimulate the lymph nodes, which improves the flow of lymph, a bodily fluid containing white blood cells that help fight infection and disease. In addition, as previously mentioned, massages reduce stress and help individuals get more restful sleep, both of which are key to staying healthy.
Decreases Depression and Anxiety
In addition to reducing stress, the endorphins that massages release also decrease feelings of depression and anxiety and improve mood. A masseuse’s touch—or a massage chair that imitates this touch—can further reduce depression and anxiety.
Alleviates Symptoms of Medical Conditions
Massage therapy works wonders for those who have preexisting medical conditions. It can reduce the pain and stress—physical and mental—connected to numerous medical conditions, including:
- Cancer
- Migraine
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Many other conditions
With all the benefits massage therapy has to offer, it’s certainly worth trying. Massage therapy from human masseuses and massage chairs both provide the above benefits, so find the method that works for you. If you prefer not to use a human massage therapist, be sure to find the type of massage chair with all the massage settings and features you need since they differ from model to model. Now, go reap the benefits that a good massage has to offer!
The part of your article that talked about how massage therapy can help improve sleep was definitely one I liked reading. I’ve been struggling with sleep recently since I started working more hours at home, and I can’t seem to get my schedule back together. I’ll get some help from a massage parlor in the area so they can assist me with getting some better sleep.
It’s nice that you talked about how one key benefit of massage therapy is the pain relief it offers. My body doesn’t feel good right now and it is giving me some small troubles during daily life. A massage might be just what I need to resolve this issue, so I am thinking seeing a Rolf massage therapist soon.