Medical Benefits of Massage Therapy
Improved blood circulation, muscle relaxation, pain relief and stress reduction: these are just a few of the benefits of deep tissue massage. Therapeutic massage therapy has many applications in alternate therapies, for such purposes as muscle / joint stabilization, increased range of motion and myofascial release. Sports massage therapy helps in recovery from sports injuries and and is also as part of a training program that can prevent injuries like sprains and muscle pulls.
Benefits of massage therapy
All kinds of massage techniques, including sports massage therapy, are used to help people deal with chronic pain, tension and to recover from injuries. The health benefits of therapeutic massage include improvements in both physical and emotional well being.
Massage therapists work with healthcare provides, personal trainers, chiropractors, and others to create a routine that provides maximum benefits. For those suffering from a range of chronic pains and injuries, using massage therapy helps to regain normal activities and fitness levels.
Medical reasons to have a massage
As the health benefits of massage are becoming known, more and more people are discussing getting a massage with their doctors. Hospitals and healthcare professionals are recognizing the role of massage therapy in treating certain conditions.
More than half or 54% of all adult Americans who received massages in the year between July 2013 and July 2014 did so for medical reasons, which included pain management, muscle soreness, stiffness, spasms, injury rehabilitation, and overall wellness. Massage therapy and sports massage therapy can be used to treat conditions like the following:
- Migraines
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Frozen Shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel
- Chronic Pain
- Sports Injuries
- Fibromyalgia
- Sleep Disorders
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Sciatica
- Poor Posture
Relaxation and stress reduction are other common reasons for choosing to have a massage.
Massage therapy provides pain relief
Chronic pain is a very common condition that is also very difficult to treat. Lower back, neck, wrists and shoulders are particularly susceptible areas. Massage and sports massage therapy can be very effective in terms of providing both short-term and long-term pain relief.
Massage therapy is also effective in controlling and lowering blood pressure. With all these benefits, massage therapy is one of the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments used in a large number of hospitals. A survey of 1007 hospitals by the American Hospital Association found that 82% of the hospitals that reported using CAM therapies included massage therapy.
Sports massage therapy is increasingly recognized and having many benefits, including pain relief, recovery from injuries, and fitness training. The medical use of massage therapy as an alternative medicine treatment is growing, since massage provides medical benefits as well as relaxation.
