In 2020, 61% of women had a massage for health and wellness reasons, as well as stress reduction. There have been countless articles and studies on how stress negatively impacts people’s lives and there are equally countless articles and studies that show how massages can be a wonderful stress management technique. Relaxation and stress reduction, however, are not the only benefits one can get from a massage. Here are other ways that regular massages can improve your physical health.
Fighting Off Viruses, Pain, and Waste
Massage has become part of Integrative Medicine, which combines standard medical therapies with non-traditional methods to treat patients in a holistic way. Medical research shows that one of the benefits of a routine massage is an enhanced immune system. Massage therapy increases the level of activity of the body’s killer T cells, which are responsible for targeting and killing viruses.
Massage is also a natural alternative to managing pain. Those experiencing low-back pain, fibromyalgia, post-operative pain, pain from cancer, and arthritis have experienced relief with massage being part of their pain management. It’s a solution that’s non-opioid and decreases the risk of opioid misuse.
Lymphatic drainage massage improves detoxification. This gentle massage encourages the movement of lymph fluids around the body and the lymphatic system aids the body in waste elimination. This kind of massage is very helpful to people who suffer from lymphedema, fibromyalgia, and those with digestive issues, skin disorders, and swelling.
Other Amazing Effects On Your Body
While more research is needed to confirm this, some studies have shown that massages have been beneficial for insomnia, nerve pain, headaches, and sports injuries. Massage helps you get a better quality of sleep by relaxing your muscles. When done regularly, you get a better sleep cycle which in turn fights fatigue and improves your focus. Regular body massages can also reduce muscle tension that may affect nerves and may cause nerve pain syndrome.
The Annals of Behavioral Medicine published a study that people who received regular full-body massages had fewer migraine attacks, the effects of which lasted up to three weeks. To maximize the effects, experts recommend getting a massage once a month to reduce migraine episodes. Regular massages can also benefit those who are athletic and who are into sports by improving performance, minimizing pain, averting injury, and shortening recovery time.
If you do get injured, massages help by getting rid of soft-tissue restrictions and increasing circulation which not only helps your current injury but prevents other problems it may cause.
Even if you do get a massage for relaxation and reducing stress, your body reaps so many benefits from it, especially when done regularly. Instead of viewing regular massage as a pampering activity, look at it as a health-related necessity. Just make sure that your massage therapist is licensed and trained. If you are suffering from any illness, check with your primary caregiver if it’s okay to continue with your regular massage sessions.
