What are the Benefits of Massage Therapy for Pain Relief?
A therapeutic massage sounds amazing doesn’t it! But, it’s not just used for helping people relax, as many experts believe that it is perfect for pain relief also. A massage for the purpose of pain relief involves the massage therapist using their hands, or elbows, to help solve a back problem, for example. A therapeutic massage is different from a non-therapeutic or relaxation massage, as these massages are a lot more passive and their aim is to promote comfort rather than pain relief.
Therapeutic massage has the ability to treat chronic conditions such as lower back pain, as well as neck and shoulder pain. Therapeutic massage can even work with headaches, jaw pain and Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ).
The Benefits…
Therapeutic massage is able to help improve such things as joint flexibility and relieve lower-back pain, but it is also known to help with the release of endorphins. Here are some of the conditions that therapeutic massage is able to help with:
- Sports injuries, or even work-related injuries and RSI. Massage is able to effectively deal with conditions such as carpal tunnel and plantar fasciitis, as well as bursitis.
- Mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.
- Poor posture in the body
Therapeutic massage helps to manipulate the soft tissue within the human body. This promotes the flow of fluid in the lymphatic system. This results in better natural immunity.
It is also commonly used after surgery, such as in legs or arms to help minimize any swelling. As you can see, there are many benefits of massage therapy for pain relief.
What Massage is Right For You?
- Reiki – This type of massage involves light touches. Mainly this is used to increase the body’s energy.
- Craniosacral therapy – Normally, around five grams of pressure is applied, and is thought to help with the central nervous system.
- Deep tissue massage – One of the more common types of massage. Here, the massage therapist uses a great deal of pressure to help target the deepest layers of muscle tissue in a person’s body to help relieve pain.
- Rolfing and myofascial release – Sometimes used for helping to manipulate soft tissues, and is more aggressive than a deep tissue massage.
How often should you visit a massage therapist?
For individuals with chronic pain, it is recommended that you have a massage at least once every 4 weeks, but this really depends on the person. For example, if you suffer from particularly bad back pain, you may wish to visit a massage therapist maybe three or four times within a few weeks to really maximize the benefit of the massages on your day to day life.
Thanks to Release Muscle Therapy, who offer massage in Santa Monica, for their contribution to this article.
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