What You Should Know About the Benefits of Getting a Massage

Massage therapy manipulates the soft tissues of the body to produce a relaxed state and relieve pain, discomfort, anxiety, and fatigue.

"After graduating from massage school, [massage therapists] are able to go on and explore different types of knowledge to suit their own personal practice," But self-massage and massages between couples do have some benefits, and it is worth trying them out during a pandemic if you are interested and able to do so. Self-massage is also beneficial.

So, let's get down to the nitty-gritty: what are the various kinds of massage?

There are many different kinds, but the following are some of the most typical types of massage therapy: Swedish, deep tissue, sports, and hot stone.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a Swedish massage is a type of massage that is less vigorous but still helps you relax. Your massage therapist may try using longer strokes, kneading, and deeper circular movements while giving you this massage.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a deep massage is characterized by using a slightly greater amount of pressure in conjunction with slower strokes in order to reach deeper layers of muscle and tissue. When you have an injury, you might request this specific kind of massage from your therapist.

Athletes who are recovering from injuries and those who may want to prevent injuries can both benefit from this type of massage.

According to the Mayo Clinic, trigger point massage focuses on areas of the body where there is tightness and tension and works to relieve the pressure that is present in those areas.

You can use a massager like the Theragun ($399; Theragun) or a foam roller, or you can just use your hands to give yourself a massage to help relieve tension and manage the soreness that can occur after working out.

Because this is such a broad industry, it is essential that you have a clear idea of the kind of massage you are looking for. "It's not something that can be replicated. A massage therapist who is board-certified in therapeutic massage and bodywork said that "we don't all have the specific same specializations" in our field. Therefore, it is important for you to do your research, consult their websites, make some phone calls, and ask questions.

Here are ten advantages of getting a massage.

If you find that receiving massages in settings similar to spas brings you pleasure, that alone is reason enough to continue doing so in the future when it will be safe to do so. However, if you are curious as to whether or not massages have additional benefits for people who have medical conditions, or if the amateur rubdowns that you enjoy so much are actually doing anything, it turns out that massages can be helpful, based on the circumstances.

But let's not get too excited about this. In spite of the fact that there is evidence to justify the benefits of getting a massage, you cannot simply book a massage in place of going to the doctor to get treatment. And while it may be possible to massage your head to handle an occasional headache or gently knead your abdomen to relieve a stomach ache, it is best to speak with a professional if you are looking to alleviate the pain that is caused by a medical condition (even if you're just having a chat with a therapist to get self-massage tips). This is especially true if you are looking to alleviate the pain that is caused by a chronic condition. In addition, before scheduling a massage for a specific condition, you should consult with your primary care physician or a practitioner you see for the condition in question. These conversations should take place before you book the massage. In spite of this, there is evidence from scientific studies to suggest that treatment can assist with the following:

1. Reducing stress and making time for relaxation

According to Deery, the alleviation of stress is the primary advantage of getting a massage. Research suggests that massages can help reduce stress and encourage relaxation, but we need more research to determine the exact degree to which massage therapy lowers stress hormones like cortisol.

2. Sexual activity between married couples

Touching someone's body does more than just make you feel good. According to a previous article published by SELF, several studies suggest that the act of physically touching another person can lower blood pressure and improve levels of hormones such as oxytocin, which makes people feel better. In addition, a small study that was conducted in 2020 and reported in the Journal of Health Psychology found that couples who massage each other reap benefits for both the giver and the receiver of the massage. Therefore, even if you are not interested in receiving a therapeutic massage, it is not a terrible idea to break out some massage oil to use on a partner if you are looking to strengthen your relationship with that person (or vice versa).

3. treatment for constipation

If you suffer from constipation or any other digestive issue, giving your stomach a massage may help relieve some of the discomforts you're experiencing. A 2016 study found that abdominal massages aided post-surgery constipated patients to move their bowels and feel better.

4. Fibromyalgia pain management

Chronic pain is one of the symptoms of fibromyalgia, along with problems sleeping, remembering, and feeling depressed. According to the Mayo Clinic, massage therapy is a complementary treatment for the condition, despite the fact that it is not a cure for the condition (along with medication, counseling, and physical therapy). According to the Mayo Clinic, however, you should keep in mind that there are some circumstances in which massage therapy can actually make your pain worse. It is in your best interest to discuss the potential advantages of massage for fibromyalgia with your primary care physician, and you should also make sure to mention your situation with your massage therapist before beginning treatment.

5. A remedy for headaches caused by tension

According to the Mayo Clinic, a tension headache, also known as a concentration headache, can cause a person to feel as though there is a tight band wrapped around their head. According to the Mayo Clinic, there is proof that massages can also provide relief for this type of headache, despite the fact that the underlying cause is not completely understood. Head, neck, and shoulder tension are relieved (which might alleviate your headache symptoms).

6. Insomnia (related to stress)

As we discussed earlier, massages have a calming effect on stress, and lower levels of stress can make it easier to fall asleep (although there are other sleep hygiene habits, such as having a bedtime ritual and lessening screen time before bed, that you might want to investigate as well).

7. treatment for patients suffering from myofascial pain syndrome

According to the Mayo Clinic, myofascial pain syndrome is a condition that causes chronic pain and occurs when there is pressure placed on the muscles of the body (sometimes in locations that do not appear to be related to the pain). According to the Mayo Clinic, even though there is no known cure for it, some patients do find relief from their symptoms by having a physical therapist or massage therapist work on the parts of the body where they are experiencing the most pain in order to relax their muscles.

8. Soreness and strain in the muscles

According to the findings of a meta-analysis study released in Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine in 2015, getting a massage when your muscles are sore and swollen can help to bring blood flow to the area (and start encouraging recovery), as well as reduce inflammation.

9. A short-term remedy for arthritis and other joint pain

According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of arthritis include inflammation and pain in the joints. According to the Mayo Clinic, when you get a massage, the therapist will knead and massage your muscles, which will cause blood to flow to your joints, which may provide some temporary relief. Before you begin your massage therapy session, make sure to let your therapist know that you suffer from arthritis. This will allow them to help you better understand how the two of you can collaborate.

10. Circulation while a woman is pregnant

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, receiving a massage while one is pregnant is one way to improve one's circulation (ACOG). Just check in with your primary care physician before scheduling an appointment, and don't forget to let your massage therapist know that you're expecting a child, even if you don't yet have any visible signs of pregnancy.