Massage Therapy and Massage Therapy Benefits
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Massage Therapy and Massage Therapy Benefits Articles
What Can Massage Therapy Do For Me? by: Mike Yeager Massage therapy is just what is says, therapy that comes from getting a massage. And, yes, it does work! Massage therapy has been used to help promote wellness and health within the body. It allows the body to heal quicker and relieves the tension and the pain that illnesses, severe or not, brings to the body.
Many people claim that massage therapy helped get them through the tough times of a disease. Diseases like cancer, diabetes, arthritis, gastrointestinal problems, and even PMS can be relieved through massage therapy. Now, that’s not to say that a good massage will cure these illnesses but it will help to ease the suffering and pain that they cause. Many studies have been done to prove this. They found that women who had massage therapy did not go into premature labor as often. That babies who were premature and given this treatment gained weight faster! It even helps to relieve depression and ADHD in children.
All of this from massage therapy? Massage therapy goes back to almost 4000 years as ancient people used it to help relieve the symptoms of illness. It fell off though through the years as doctors used medicines instead. Medicines were more readily available allowing doctors to treat illness quicker. But, studies have shown so much benefit from massage that many insurance companies provide for massage therapy.
Lastly, massage therapy has become a huge industry. Massage therapy is preformed by a licensed massage therapist who must attend massage therapy school and obtain a degree. There are many massage therapy jobs available as the field grows and more and more people see the healing powers behind massage therapy. Ask your doctor about massage therapy. Perhaps it can help to relieve some of your pain and, don’t forget, stress as well.
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Massage Therapy for Health by: Carol Wiley, LMP Yes, massage feels good. But, more importantly, massage helps maintain and promote good health.
Three of the primary health benefits of massage are improved circulation, reduced muscle tension, and relief from the effects of stress.
Massage increases lymph flow and blood circulation. Your body depends on the flow of lymph and blood to remove metabolic waste and by-products of tissue damage and inflammation and to deliver oxygen and nutrients to tissue cells.
Secondly, massage reduces muscle tension. Tense muscles lead to stiffness, reduced movement potential, impaired circulation, and pain. Massage relaxes muscles through the mechanical effects of pressure on muscle tissue and the soothing effects of focused, skilled touch on the nervous system, which controls muscle tension.
A third important benefit of massage is relief from the effects of stress. Negative stress is a major factor in many of the diseases that plague our lives. Various sources estimate that 70-90% of visits to general physicians are for stress-related illness.
The effects of stress on the body are the result of the fight-or-flight response. Here’s how the fight-or-flight response works. Let’s say that during a backcountry hike an angry cougar confronts you. You have two choices--run or fight.
Your body prepares for action: your muscles tense, your heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure all increase, your liver dumps sugar into your blood stream for energy, and your adrenal glands pump adrenaline into your system. Your body also shuts down the digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems, which are not needed for immediate survival.
Then after your successful fight or flight, your body pretty much returns to normal as a result of the intense physical exertion.
Most of the stresses we face in today’s world are subtler than a cougar. But when someone yells at you for no apparent reason, your body has much the same response that it has to that cougar. Since it’s not acceptable to either fight or run, you just stand there and your body does not as easily return to a normal state.
The effects of such stresses are cumulative: over time your body spends more time in the hyped-up fight-or-flight state. You can see where this state could lead to chronically tense muscles and to heart, blood pressure, blood sugar, digestive, urinary, or reproductive problems.
Massage therapy helps reverse the effects of stress by creating the opposite of the fight-or-flight response: the relaxation response, which lowers heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure and increases the blood supply to all the body’s systems.
Although massage has many wonderful benefits, it is not for everyone. Most types of massage are not appropriate for someone with advanced heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure or diabetes, blood clots, and a few other conditions. Massage therapists take a health history to ensure that you receive safe and effective massage.
Regular massage helps you maintain good health. The effects of massage are cumulative. If you have a massage only when you are totally stressed or in pain, you start over each time. Receiving massage as often as you can physically, time-wise, and financially afford is an excellent investment in your health. About The Author Carol Wiley, LMP, is a massage therapist in Bellevue, WA. Visit http://www.bellevuemassagetherapy.com for more information about massage, a guide to massage resources and products, and self-care tips (including stretching, exercise, stress management, and more). Also, sign up for Carol's free monthly newsletter, Just the Right Touch, to learn more about the wide world of massage, bodywork, somatics, and related health/wellness topics.
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Massage Therapy by: C. Bailey-Lloyd/LadyCamelot Massage Therapy is a massage session that takes place in a warm, comfortable and quiet area as you lie on a specially-designed table. Sometimes, soft music is played for relaxation. A professional massage therapist with proper training will perform the massage therapy. Usually, massage therapy is done with the client disrobed. It is, however, up to the individual whether or not to undress. Through the massage therapy session, you will be properly covered. Typically, a full body session includes therapeutic massage on your back, arms, legs, feet, hands, head, neck and shoulders. Depending on the massage therapy technique utilized, your body should become relaxed as the session progresses. Some massage therapy methods include Swedish massage, deep-tissue massage, reflexology, and acupressure/Shiatzu massage. Each of these massage therapies uses variant strokes, posture and pressure application to specific points. Always ask your practitioner about which technique he or she utilizes. In most cases, a massage therapy session lasts about an hour. For optimal relaxation, try a 90-minute massage therapy visit. Massage therapy is beneficial as it relieves chronic muscular tension and pain, improves circulation and joint mobility, reduces mental and physical fatigue and promotes help in healing, including lowering of blood pressure. After massage therapy, many individuals experience relaxation and freedom from aches and pains due to tension or repetitive activities. Increased energy, mental awareness and improved productivity usually lasts for days after massage therapy. The advantages of massage therapy are infinite. Feel free to contact one of our experienced massage therapists today to begin your road to healing and wellness.
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