Long-term Benefits of Routine Massage Therapy

Massage therapy addresses different issues and has several benefits when you apply it routinely. Most people use the therapy for addressing injuries, relaxation, and pampering. However, the benefits surpass these three.

Long-term Benefits

Unless you have certain health conditions, massages have great benefits. The benefits are not just physical but emotional and psychological. They include:

 

• Pain Relief

If you have pain that continues for three months or more, you need massage therapy. This chronic pain is usually due to long-term illness or injury. It can occur in any part of the body and cause depression, anxiety, and stress. Through a series of gentle strokes, massage helps block pain signals from reaching the brain.

This disruption of the pain cycle helps relieve pain. It also prevents it from reoccurring. The gentle strokes and pressure remove obstructions and scar tissue that may be contributing to the pain. This allows blood circulation and alignment of muscles, causing the body to regain its functions with time.

 

• Mental Clarity

Research shows that massage therapy increases dopamine and serotonin in the brain. The two hormones influence your mood, appetite, learning, memory, and sleep. In the process, massage also decreases your levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. Reduction of cortisol and a rise of dopamine and serotonin improves your body function and mental clarity.

 

• Muscle Tension Relief

For people who love hiking, live in hilly or mountainous areas, massage helps release tension in the muscles. Without massage, muscles will accumulate trauma that may lead to injury. Massage thus flushes out the tension and increases the endurance and stability of your muscles. The increase in endurance and stability reduces the risk of injury.

 

• Detoxification

Massage therapy uses pressure and strokes that release chemicals into the bloodstream. It also increases the circulation of blood in the body. As blood circulates through the body, it passes through the kidneys. The kidneys then process the chemicals that help in the removal of toxins from the body. Regular massage therapy, therefore, helps the body detoxify.

 

• Increases Immunity

Regular massage therapy boosts circulation in the lymphatic system and the activity level of the white blood cells. These cells fight viruses and harmful bacteria in your body, allowing you to remain healthy. The increase in circulation allows the white blood cells in the blood to fight more efficiently. They boost your immune system and increase the body’s strength.

 

• Increases Balance

If you are prone to falls, you may need to consider regular massage therapy. It helps the muscles align and relax so they reduce the pressure on sensitive nerves. The alignment helps deal with structural imbalances and allows you to move in a free-flowing way.

 

• Increase Joint Flexibility

Massage therapy increases your range of motion, reducing the risk of injury. This is so whether your reduction of joint flexibility is due to injury or lack of exercise. Massage therapy can give you a solution that will help you get back to your normal activities. Joint flexibility is especially important for people who engage in sports. Deep tissue, sports massages will help increase your flexibility.

For more on routine massage therapy, visit Healistic Chiropractic and Acupuncture at our office in Lafayette, Indiana. You can call (765) 227-2454 to schedule an appointment today.