Many people associate massage therapy with relaxation and indulgence, but the perks actually extend much deeper. From giving the immune system a helping hand to reducing cortisol levels, a consistent massage schedule offers dramatic and measurable health benefits. Here are six ways a regular visit to your massage therapy clinic can improve your health.
1. Lower Stress
While you don’t need science to prove massage therapy is a calming experience, research does show significant stress relief benefits. Cortisol, the stress hormone, is responsible for a variety of negative effects. It is linked to digestive issues, headaches, and weight gain among other problems. Massage therapy lowers cortisol levels, reduces anxiety, and improves energy levels.
2. Boost Immunity
Are you feeling under the weather? Therapeutic massage could be just what the doctor ordered. Studies reveal the number of lymphocytes, or white blood cells that fight infection, increase after massage due to the boost in circulation. Regular sessions help strengthen and support the immune system.
3. Enhance Quality of Sleep
Whether you feel stressed out and overworked from the day or suffer from aches and pains, it is often difficult to get a good night’s sleep. Massage therapy can help foster sound shuteye. It not only helps with falling asleep, but also staying asleep. Research shows that people who receive 30-minute sessions twice a week notice a substantial reduction in sleep disturbances after five weeks of treatment. This is due to massage therapy’s ability to relieve pain, tension, and stress.
4. Reduce Blood Pressure
High blood pressure levels are linked to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure. Fortunately, regular trips to your massage therapy clinic work to lower blood pressure and help you avoid these threats. A consistent massage schedule has been shown to reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure markers, along with hypertension-provoking cortisol. Studies reveal these relaxing effects remain up to 72 hours after a massage.
5. Eliminate Muscle Tension
Among the many health benefits of therapeutic massage, muscle tension relief is one of the most important. Muscle stiffness, soreness, and pain lead to an array of problems in the body. Massage therapy targets those tired muscles and promotes healing. It also helps boost flexibility and circulation to injured tissues. Finally, the release of endorphins lessens pain and gives the body a rush of euphoria-inducing dopamine and serotonin.
6. Improve Alignment
Poor posture from sitting at desks all day leaves many people with chronic neck and back pain. Repetitive movements and being overweight also hurt the spine’s alignment, leading to tension, spasms, and pain that radiate down into the hips and legs. With regular massage sessions, you can get your body back into alignment and eliminate pain. When tense muscles release and joints have greater range of motion, the spine has the opportunity to heal, correct its position, and return to a healthy posture.
Discover the Benefits of Massage Firsthand
To learn more about how regular massages improve your health, or to schedule an appointment, feel free to contact the friendly team at any of our massage therapy clinic locations in Chesterfield, Clinton Township, Center Line, St. Clair Shores, and Washington Township.
