What is Massage Therapy?

By massaging and manipulating the body’s soft tissue, a massage therapist can affect the muscular, nervous and circulatory systems. Through this action, the blood supply to an affected or problem area is increased, normal movement is restored and pain caused by stiffness and limited joint mobility is reduced. Massage therapy can help in both treatment and prevention of pain and injuries.

While therapeutic massage is beneficial at any age, it is particularly helpful to seniors. As one ages there is often decreased mobility and strength as well as increased stress due to losses experienced. Through massage therapy circulation can be improved thereby improving one’s mobility and ease of movement. The comfort of a caring massage can help ease the stresses realized and may aid in having a more restful sleep.

Anyone who has suffered from chronic headaches or backaches knows how uncomfortable and limiting to daily activities this pain can be. Regular massage therapy can help. By using massage manipulation, trigger point therapy and passive movements, people with chronic pain can experience considerable relief. Massage therapy promotes a sense of well being and allows you to participate in your healing process.

If you are involved in a sports or exercise program, massage can be a protective and performance enhancing process. Massage brings blood and oxygen to the muscle tissue, removes waste matter from muscle tissue and increases the ability of the muscle to contract and expand. By decreasing the muscles’ resistance to movement, energy is conserved.

The hectic and demanding lives we lead can leave us with any of the following signs of stress: tension headaches, muscle tension, sleeplessness, digestive trouble, anxiety and depression. The body’s reaction to stress is often a tightening of muscles and this tightening causes pain and discomfort. Regular massage therapy can reduce the physical effects of stress and provide a time and space of complete relaxation.

For mothers-to-be, pregnancy ailments such as low back discomfort and foot pain can be reduced by massage. Following delivery, massage aids in physical recovery as well as providing a relaxing break from the emotional stresses and practical demands of caring for a newborn.