From rehabilitation to relaxation, there are many reasons why people get massages

The field of massage therapy has been growing and changing in recent years, and more and more people are realizing that massage can have a wide range of benefits. Depending on what you need, a massage can help relieve pain, relax your muscles, improve your posture, or reduce your stress. Take a moment to consider some of the top reasons that people choose to get a massage.

1. Relieve stress and anxiety.  In today’s modern world, there seem to be more stressors than ever before. Taking time out from your busy schedule to come into your favorite spa, or to simply sign up for a chair massage at the mall can help to reduce the amount of stress you are feeling.

2. Relieve lower back pain.  Lower back pain is a common complaint among many people, especially as they age. When severe enough, this kind of pain can lead to missed work or disability. Massage therapy can be effective in decreasing pain in your lower back, and in decreasing the disability associated with it.

3. Reduce pain in other areas of the body.  While lower back pain is very common, pain in other areas can also be treated with massage therapy. Common areas where clients seek relief from pain are the neck, the shoulders, knee and hip joints, and other areas of the body. There are many causes for pain, and massage therapists are trained to help clients with pain caused by a range of conditions including arthritis, cancer, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, carpel tunnel syndrome, headache, trauma, and injury.

4. Reduce muscle tension.  From the highest paid professional athletes to those of us who follow more simple workout programs, people who exercise can benefit from massage. Massage, particularly a special sports massage, can help with conditioning, range of motion, and flexibility, as well as speed up recovery from muscle injuries.

5. Improve flexibility.  For athletes and non-athletes alike, massage can improve the range of motion and flexibility of your muscles. Massage helps to stimulate blood circulation around your muscles, which increases the flow of oxygen and nutrients to your muscles, leading to increased flexibility, among other benefits.

6. Relieve tension headaches.  Tension headaches are a very common type of headache. They are believed to be caused when the muscles contract in the neck, face, scalp, and jaw. One of the major causes of tension headaches is stress. Massage therapy can help reduce the tightness of the muscles and alleviate the pain caused by tension headaches.

7. Reduce depression.  There are many reasons for depression, and treating depression takes a long-term collaborative approach that involves many care providers. Massage therapy can play a role in helping patients with depression, particularly with depression that may be related to illnesses or chronic pain. By helping patients manage their pain and other symptoms, massage can have a beneficial effect on the patient’s overall well-being.

8. Boost your immunity.  Research has indicated that a Swedish massage may help boost your immunity by increasing the type of cells that fight off viruses. A massage won’t stop a sickness once it has started, but it may play a role in increasing your immune system’s ability to prevent the sickness before it starts.

9. Improve stability and quality of life in older adults.  Many older adults face health issues as they age. According to an article by the American Massage Therapy Association, massage can help reduce the negative effects of dementia, high-blood pressure, osteoarthritis, and a host of other health issues. In addition, it is shown to promote relaxation and stability among older adults.

10. Improve your overall health and well-being.  Many people integrate massage therapy into a regular health and wellness plan, and find that it improves their overall health and well-being. Most people feel rejuvenated after their massages and enjoy both the physical and emotional benefits that massage can bring.