Just a few benefits you can receive from massage therapy: Manage Anxiety And Depression For the same reasons that a massage is relaxing, it can also soothe anxiety and depression. Massage reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol, resulting in lifted spirits and often lower blood pressure. It can also boost the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, which are involved in depression Ease Pain Eight out of 10 Americans will experience debilitating back pain, according to Time, but a massage can help. According to a 2011 study, massage helped people in pain feel and function better compared to people who didnt receive any massage treatment. We found the benefits of massage are about as strong as those reported for other effective treatments: medications, acupuncture, exercise and yoga, Dan Cherkin, Ph.D., lead author of the study, said in a press release. Massage has also been linked to decreased stiffness and pain, as well as better range of motion in people with osteoarthritis. Improve Sleep If youve ever dozed off on a massage table, you dont need to be convinced that a massage can promote healthy sleep. A number of studies have examined this link, and chalk it up to massages affect on delta waves, the kind of brain waves connected to deep sleep, according to Health magazine. Boost Immunity Multiple studies, although often small, have linked massage to better functioning of the immune system. In one 2010 study, researchers found massage increased a persons disease-fighting white blood cells. The stress-reducing powers of massage can also help keep you healthy. Beat PMS At least one small study found that massage can kick pesky PMS symptoms, like bloating and mood swings, to the curb. Curb Headaches Just like muscle and back pain, headaches can also be alleviated thanks to massage. A regular rubdown can reduce a persons number of migraines, according to WebMD, as well as limit how painful each migraine feels, according to the TRI. A 2009 study found that a 30-minute massage decreased pain for people with tension headaches, and even curbed some of the stress and anger associated with that pounding head.
Posted on: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 00:14:29 +0000
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