7 Benefits of Massage Therapy

A massage is something you might think of as a special occasion when you get to relax and unwind for an hour. But the benefits of massage therapy go much deeper than just body and mind relaxation.

Massage therapy is a holistic option for many people living with chronic health conditions, everyday pain, and even those with extreme stress. It promotes wellness in your body, improves blood flow, and removes harmful toxins.

At Integrated Body and Medicine, our team of specialists provides holistic therapies, including massage, to treat multiple issues with the body. We utilize it as part of our physical medicine and rehabilitation services.

What is massage therapy?

Massage therapy is a type of treatment a licensed massage therapist performs to promote relaxation and wellness in the body. The therapist utilizes various techniques to manipulate tissues and muscles during a massage.

Massage therapy aims to provide the patient with a quiet environment where they can relax, relieve stress, and promote physical and mental wellness. Types of massage therapy include:

• Prenatal
• Sports
• Deep tissue
• Swedish
• Trigger point
• Lymphatic
• Myofascial release

Each type of massage targets specific issues within the body. For example, a prenatal massage is specifically for women who are pregnant to provide relief while protecting the unborn baby.

On the other hand, a sports massage focuses on overused muscles and tissues that are under stress from sports or physical activities.

Many people can benefit from regular massages, especially those dealing with chronic pain or health conditions or who stress their bodies a lot for work or play.

Seven significant benefits of a massage

Massage is especially beneficial to those looking for a holistic and nonsurgical way to manage health issues. Here are some of the benefits of massage therapy:

Reduces stress

One of the primary reasons for a massage is to manage day-to-day stressors. Whether you have a big promotion coming up or you're stressed from everyday life, a massage gives you the atmosphere to disconnect and relax while providing your body with the necessary TLC.

Relieves anxiety

Anxiety is a common concern; some people have chronic anxiety that never goes away, while others are anxious due to events in life.

A massage promotes mental wellness, which helps combat issues like anxiety and depression. Getting a massage is an excellent way to take care of your mental health and reduce everyday stress.

Helps with low back pain

Low back pain affects people of all ages and can get out of control quickly without treatment. But you don't have to take medication or undergo surgery — massage therapy is a good tool to combat chronic back pain and relieve muscle tension.

Allows you to sleep better

Massage therapy helps control cortisol, a stress hormone affecting many aspects of your health, including sleep. Massage therapy also increases dopamine and serotonin, which stabilize your mood and help you get a good night's rest.

Relieves muscle tension

Muscle tension happens from stress, overuse, or poor posture and may lead to chronic pain. The massage therapist's techniques relax the muscles, relieving tension and providing pain relief.

Improves immune function

Getting regular massages improves the way your immune system works. Massage therapy increases the white blood cells in the body, which are vital for fighting off bacteria and viruses.

Increases range of motion in joints

As you age, joint stiffness increases and range of motion decreases due to conditions like arthritis – but you don't have to live with it. Massage therapy decreases muscle tightness and inflammation to improve the range of motion in your joints.

Call us today at our office in the greater Highland and Hammond, Indiana, area or request an appointment for massage therapy using our handy scheduling tool.