Massage therapy probably isn’t one of the first things most people think about when they consider treatment options for what ails them. In the west, we’re pretty well conditioned to believe that a pill or perhaps even surgery is the answer to most of our health problems. Surely there are times when those approaches will offer the best result, but in many cases there are alternatives. One of them is massage therapy. Lots of people swear by it, so it is definitely worth checking out. Here are 9 ways you may benefit from massage therapy.
1. Back pain
This might be one treatment option that comes quickly to mind when considering massage therapy. Used to reduce or eliminate lower back pain, massage therapy may also include the added benefit of improving range of motion.
2. Pregnancy
On the other hand, here’s an application for massage therapy that may not come to mind when someone mentions it. Message therapy may help women experience shorter and less painful labor and delivery. As a result, shorter hospital stays may be an added benefit.
3. Immune system
While it’s well-known that a healthy diet and exercise are good ways to keep your immune system healthy and effective, many people are not aware that massage therapy can also help to improve the body’s immune system by stimulating the lymphatic system.
4. Scars
Massage therapy can assist with post-operative healing by speeding up the healing process, and also reducing the incidence of scarring. It may also help reduce stretch marks or help prevent them from forming.
5. Circulation
This is a benefit of massage therapy that may be kind of obvious since anyone who has enjoyed a good massage knows how it can improve circulation. Better circulation helps to supply muscles and other tissues with oxygen-rich blood.
6. Cramps
Cramps can be a painful and all-to-frequent occurrence for some, and massage therapy can be used to help stretch and relax problem areas of the body and reduce cramping, as well as painful muscle spasms that can interrupt sleep and interfere with daily life.
7. Overworked muscles
Just about everyone has probably used a little massage therapy in themselves since rubbing aching, sore muscles is a natural response to pain and tightness. Obviously, someone trained as a professional massage therapist will likely provide a much better result than a do-it-yourself solution.
8. Better mood
Another unexpected benefit of massage therapy is that it can release endorphins, those “feel good” chemicals that the body produces naturally. Endorphins can help elevate mood as well as reduce pain.
9. Migraine relief
For those that suffer from migraine headaches, rubbing or massaging various areas of the body in the hope of reducing pain is probably quite familiar. Knowing where and how to massage key areas of the body can be very helpful for migraine sufferers, making massage therapy an promising treatment option.