Why should we incorporate massage regularly into our wellness regime? Here are 10 fantastic reasons why…
1. Relieve stress
Stress is a prevalent component in today’s fast-paced world which can negatively impact an individual’s health and well-being. Massage therapy has been shown to be a means by which stress can be reduced significantly on physical and psychological levels.
2. Reduce anxiety
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 40 million adult Americans suffer from anxiety disorders. One way massage can reduce anxiety is by decreasing the hormones associated with increasing anxiety.
3. Manage low-back pain
Low back pain is super common in our world today. Sitting for prolonged periods of time for example, working at a desk, excessive daily drive time and even prolonged/excessive mountain biking & cycling can contribute to low back pain. Massage therapy can help to release and relax the many muscle groups that contribute to low back pain which in turn helps us perform better physically and mentally.
4. Reduce muscle tension
5. Enhance exercise performance
Individuals who participate in exercise and athletic programs who seek enhanced performance, improved conditioning, faster recovery, injury prevention, and assistance in maintaining peek fitness can benefit from massage therapy by:
- Help athletes monitor muscle tone
- Promote relaxation
- Increase range of motion
- Improve soft tissue function
- Decrease muscle stiffness and fatigue after exercise
- Improve exercise performance
- Decrease delayed onset muscle soreness
- Reduce swelling
- Reduce breathing pattern disorders
- May help prevent injuries when massage is received regularly
6. Relieve tension headaches
By far the most common type of [tension-type] headache people experience are triggered by muscular tension, bony misalignment, postural patterns, eyestrain, TMJ joint disorders or other musculoskeletal imbalances. For the most common tension-type headaches, massage is recommended and can help by:
- decrease perceived pain
- decrease tension
- reduce frequency
- reduce intensity
- reduce duration
- decrease medication usage
- increase range of cervical motion
7. Sleep better
Sleep is the only time our body recovers from our daily activities. Whether it’s exercise related or stress related. Without sleep our bodies are unable to fully recover from whatever the elements were. Massage can help with sleep by activating the parasympathetic nervous system which allows our bodies to rest, relax and rejuvenate.
8. Lower blood pressure
Decreased stress and anxiety and increased relaxation = lower blood pressure!
9. Decrease symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
In today’s world a lot of the population spends time at a computer, on a phone or other devices which affects our posture. Leading to forward head positioning and rounded shoulders. This means that the muscles in our chest and neck become shortened, including the Pectoralis Minor and Scalenes. When these muscles are shortened they put pressure on the Brachioradialis Nerve Plexus which runs from your neck, under your collarbone, in the front of the shoulder and down the arm. This pressure may cause symptoms similar to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome including, tingling, numbness and pain in the arm and hands. Massage can help release and relax these muscles, restoring them to their normal length which in turn relieves the pressure from the nerve plexus which may help alleviate Carpal Tunnel symptoms!
