The Therapeutic Benefits of Massage Therapy
Therapeutic massage is a clinical approach to treating specific conditions. It’s a type of manual therapy that’s usually performed by a licensed or certified physical therapist, who is also an expert in soft tissue injuries and dysfunctions. An individual who performs therapeutic massage is trained to take a complete health history and identify contraindications (reasons not to use the technique). Therapeutic massage may be recommended by a doctor or other health care professional as part of an overall treatment plan, and many insurance groups and workers’ compensation cover these services.
The main therapeutic benefits of massage include relaxation, pain reduction and improved blood flow. The pressure from the hand-on-skin contact and the twisting, kneading action of massage can loosen tight muscles, increase flexibility, and boost the immune system. The hands-on pressure helps improve circulation in the body, which in turn can reduce muscle fatigue and promote healing after an injury. It can also help reduce a patient’s level of the stress hormone cortisol, which is linked to weight gain, sleeplessness and digestive problems. Massage has been shown to stimulate the production of the bonding hormone oxytocin, which can lower heart rate and blood pressure and increase feelings of empathy, trustworthiness and generosity.
In addition to lowering cortisol levels, massage can reduce anxiety and depression. This is due to the fact that the human touch, as provided by massage, can decrease the activity of the periapical nerve, which sends pain signals to the brain, and by decreasing blood pressure and reducing levels of cytokines that trigger inflammation and pain. Massage can also increase endorphins, the natural chemical that helps the brain combat depression.
It can also reduce fibromyalgia symptoms, including chronic pain and fatigue, and help patients with musculoskeletal issues, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or sports injuries. It can also improve the quality of sleep in people who suffer from insomnia or irregular sleep cycles, and can decrease migraines or tension headaches. Massage has also been shown to help increase the body’s melatonin levels, which are linked to normal sleep patterns.
For those who are dealing with depression, anxiety or other mental health issues, therapeutic massage can be a useful tool in conjunction with psychotherapy. It can help improve mood, energy and concentration, as well as help a person feel better about themselves and their life in general. It can also reduce fatigue, which is associated with anxiety and depression. In some cases, therapeutic massage can even lead to a reduction in the amount of medications prescribed by doctors to their patients. For example, a study showed that massage reduced anxiety in intensive care unit patients who had recently undergone surgery, and it also decreased their reliance on pain medication. The study was published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. The researchers found that patients who received a massage had less anxiety immediately and 30 minutes after the session than those who did not receive a message. If you want to try therapeutic massage in Atlanta visit https://www.atlantachiropractor.net/.