The Benefits Of Therapeutic Massage For Your Health
The Benefits of Therapeutic Massage
Massage: noun, the act or art of treating the body by rubbing, kneading, patting, or the like, to stimulate circulation, increase suppleness, relieve tension, etc. If you’re like us you are of the opinion that massages are good for the soul.
Massage Studies
Some studies have found that a 10-minute muscle massage after a workout could reduce soreness by 30%. A separate review study on massage found that levels of the stress hormone cortisol dropped 31% following a rubdown, while levels of feel-good hormones like dopamine and serotonin increased roughly 30%.
To get more in depth, on how massage can be beneficial for health concerns, here are some studies that we found from the National Center for complementary and integrative health:
Massage for Neck and Shoulder Pain
A 2014 randomized controlled trial involving 228 participants with chronic nonspecific neck pain found that 60-minute massages given multiple times per week was more effective than fewer or shorter sessions. The participants were randomized to 5 groups receiving various doses of massage (a 4-week course consisting of 30-minute visits 2 or 3 times weekly or 60-minute visits 1, 2, or 3 times weekly) or to a single control group (a 4-week period on a wait list).
Massage for Lower Back Pain
Clinical practice guidelines issued by the American College of Physicians in 2017 included massage therapy as an option for treating acute/subacute low-back pain but did not include massage therapy among the options for treating chronic low-back pain.
Massage for Osteoarthritis Pain
A 2017 systematic review of seven randomized controlled trials involving 352 participants with arthritis found low- to moderate-quality evidence that massage therapy is superior to nonactive therapies in reducing pain and improving functional outcomes. A 2013 review of two randomized controlled trials found positive short-term (less than 6 months) effects in the form of reduced pain and improved self-reported physical functioning. Results of a 2006 randomized controlled trial of 68 adults with OA of the knee who received standard Swedish massage over 8 weeks demonstrated statistically significant improvements in pain and physical function.
Massage for Headache Pain
A 2016 randomized controlled trial with 64 participants evaluated 2 types of massage (lymphatic drainage and traditional massage), once a week for 8 weeks, in patients with migraine. The frequency of migraines decreased in both groups, compared with people on a waiting list.
Massage for Fibromyalgia
A 2014 systematic review and meta-analysis of 9 studies (404 total participants) concluded that massage therapy, if continued for at least 5 weeks, improved pain, anxiety, and depression in people with fibromyalgia but did not have an effect on sleep disturbance.
These are just some examples. It’s always a good idea to do your own research or consult with your General Practitioner to see if Therapeutic Massage is right for you, especially if you’re exploring massage therapy for health concerns.
Noted benefits of massage:
Reducing stress and increasing relaxation
Reducing pain and muscle soreness and tension
Improving circulation, energy and alertness
Lowering heart rate and blood pressure
Improving immune function
Our in-house, licensed massage therapist has 12 years of massage experience and 15 years of sports training knowledge making her an invaluable resource for total body performance, repair and maintenance.
So, if you have an interest in therapeutic massage for mental health, physical health or for no other reason, other than you enjoy massages, reach out to us at Wellness at the Spa and book your appointment today. You can reach us at (214) 489-7757 or go to wellnessatthespa.com.