The practice of using touch as a healing method derives from customs and techniques rooted in ancient history. Civilizations in the East and West found that the benefits of massage, along with natural healing, included speeding the recovery of  injuries, relieve pain, and prevent and cure illnesses. It also helped reduce stress and produce deep relaxation.

Massage therapy began as a sacred system of natural healing. Today, massage therapy stands as a highly respected holistic healing method practiced across the world.

90%

Almost 90 percent of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related problems, and 53 percent of survey respondents said their physician has recommended they get a massage.

75%

75 percent of individuals surveyed claim their primary reason for receiving a massage in the previous 12 months was for both medical (43%) and stress (32%) related issues.

56%

56 percent of people received a massage for soreness, stiffness or spasms, manage stress, improve quality of life, injury recovery, maintain wellness, or to control headaches or migraines.

So, what are the benefits of massage and bodywork? Massage is indicated for all of the conditions listed below and more:

  • Alleviate low-back pain and improve range of motion.

  • Relieve migraine and tension headache pain.

  • Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten maternity hospital stays.

  • Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body’s natural defense system.

  • Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.

  • Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.

  • Improve the condition of the body’s largest organ—the skin.

  • Increase joint flexibility.

  • Lessen depression and anxiety.

  • Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.

  • Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.

  • Reduce postsurgery adhesions and swelling.

  • Reduce spasms and cramping.

  • Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.

  • Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body’s natural painkiller.

  • Ease medication dependence.

A Powerful Ally

There’s no denying the power of bodywork. Regardless of the adjectives we assign to it (pampering, rejuvenating, therapeutic) or the reasons we seek it out (a luxurious treat, stress relief, pain management), massage therapy can be a powerful ally in your healthcare regimen.
Experts estimate that upwards of ninety percent of disease is stress related. And perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress. While eliminating anxiety and pressure altogether in this fast-paced world may be idealistic, massage can, without a doubt, help manage stress. This translates into:

  • Decreased anxiety.
  • Enhanced sleep quality.
  • Greater energy.
  • Improved concentration.
  • Increased circulation.
  • Reduced fatigue.

Couple jogging together

Furthermore, clients often report a sense of perspective and clarity after receiving a massage. The emotional balance bodywork provides can often be just as vital and valuable as the more tangible physical benefits.

Profound Effects

In response to massage, specific physiological and chemical changes cascade throughout the body, with profound effects. Research shows that with massage:

  • Arthritis sufferers note fewer aches and less stiffness and pain.
  • Asthmatic children show better pulmonary function and increased peak air flow.
  • Burn injury patients report reduced pain, itching, and anxiety.
  • High blood pressure patients demonstrate lower diastolic blood pressure, anxiety, and stress hormones.
  • Premenstrual syndrome sufferers have decreased water retention and cramping.
  • Preterm infants have improved weight gain.

Research continues to show the enormous benefits of touch—which range from treating chronic diseases, neurological disorders, and injuries, to alleviating the tensions of modern lifestyles. Consequently, the medical community is actively embracing bodywork, and massage is becoming an integral part of hospice care and neonatal intensive care units. Many hospitals are also incorporating on-site massage practitioners and even spas to treat postsurgery or pain patients as part of the recovery process.

Increase the Benefits with Frequent Visits

Getting a massage can do you a world of good. And the benefits of massage increase more with frequency. This is the beauty of bodywork. Taking part in this form of regularly scheduled self-care can play a huge part in how healthy you’ll be and how youthful you’ll remain with each passing year. Budgeting time and money for bodywork at consistent intervals is truly an investment in your health. And remember: just because massage feels like a pampering treat doesn’t mean it is any less therapeutic. Consider massage appointments a necessary piece of your health and wellness plan, and work with your practitioner to establish a treatment schedule that best meets your needs.

Review massage information from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health.

Source: http://www.massagetherapy.com/learnmore/benefits.php

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