Benefits of Massage

Massage has been around for thousands of years, and modern science has been able to prove even more benefits of massage every year.

Since I first started my massage career, there have been so many research studies to show how and why massage helps our health.

If you are wondering if massage helps something specific, you might be surprised to find that it has been researched! For example, massage helping ADHD symptoms, improving concentration, relieving pain after surgery, easing withdrawl symptoms from alcohol or drug and many more!

In Short:

Massage relieves stress in all forms-physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Therapeutic touch creates a sense of calm and wellbeing by reducing our heart rate, yet improves circulation, which helps people sleep better, breathe deeper and focus clearer. For athletes, massage helps them recover quicker and prevents injury with regular massage sessions.

In short, massage rocks.

Here, I have collected a few my favorite lists of the Benefits of Massage:

Massage Therapy Industry Fact Sheet

From AMTAmassage.org, an extensive list of the benefits of massage therapy

Please see their entire list here

The therapeutic benefits of massage continue to be researched and studied. Recent research has shown the effectiveness of massage for the following conditions:

- Cancer-related fatigue⁸
- Low back pain⁹
- Osteoarthritis of the knee¹⁰
- Reducing post-operative pain¹¹
- Boosting the body’s immune system functioning¹²
- Decreasing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome¹³
- Lowering blood pressure¹⁴
- Reducing headache frequency¹⁵
- Easing alcohol withdrawal symptoms¹⁷
- Decreasing pain in cancer patients¹⁷
- Fibromyalgia^18″

Massage & Its Benefits

From Massagetherapy.com, an extensive list and matching research articles

Please check out their entire list here

- Alleviate low-back pain and improve range of motion.
- Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten maternity hospital stays.
- Ease medication dependence.
- Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body’s natural defense system.
- Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
- Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.
- Improve the condition of the body’s largest organ—the skin.
- Increase joint flexibility.
- Lessen depression and anxiety.
- Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
- Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improvingcirculation.
- Reduce postsurgery adhesions and swelling.
- Reduce spasms and cramping.
- Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.
- Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body’s natural painkiller.
- Relieve migraine pain.

25 Reasons to Get a Massage

From American Massage Therapy Association website amtamassage.org

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“25 Reasons to Get a Massage

1. Relieve stress
2. Relieve postoperative pain
3. Reduce anxiety
4. Manage low-back pain
5. Help fibromyalgia pain
6. Reduce muscle tension
7. Enhance exercise performance
8. Relieve tension headaches
9. Sleep better
10. Ease symptoms of depression
11. Improve cardiovascular health
12. Reduce pain of osteoarthritis
13. Decrease stress in cancer patients
14. Improve balance in older adults
15. Decrease rheumatoid arthritis pain
16. Temper effects of dementia
17. Promote relaxation
18. Lower blood pressure
19. Decrease symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
20. Help chronic neck pain
21. Lower joint replacement pain
22. Increase range of motion
23. Decrease migraine frequency
24. Improve quality of life in hospice care
25. Reduce chemotherapy-related nausea”

Massage: Get In Touch With It’s Many Benefits

From Mayoclinic.com, “Mayo Clinic Staff Writers”

From Mayoclinic.com, see this entire article here

“… some studies have found massage may also be helpful for:

Anxiety
Digestive disorders
Fibromyalgia
Headaches
Insomnia related to stress
Myofascial pain syndrome
Paresthesias and nerve pain
Soft tissue strains or injuries
Sports injuries
Temporomandibular joint pain”

Massage Fun Facts

From Noel Veach’s article on examiner.com

“Massage Fun Facts”

Read the entire article here.

Did you know that there are approximately 5 million touch receptors in our skin? 3,000 in a finger tip.
Did you know that healthy touch of any kind can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure?
Did you know that Julius Caesar used massage to help his epilepsy?

New Research Supports the Mental Health Benefits of Massage Therapy

American Massage Therapy Association “roundup”

From Cison PR Newswire, results from the American Massage Therapy Association reserach:

“New Research Supports the Mental Health Benefits of Massage Therapy”

Read the entire article here.

Massage Therapy for the Treatment of Depression in Individuals with HIV
Massage Therapy to Reduce Anxiety in Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy
Massage Therapy for Reduced Anxiety and Depression in Military Veterans
Massage Therapy for Nurses to Reduce Work-Related Stress

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