Massage Therapy Benefits and Roles

Many of today's health problems can benefit from massage therapy because the manipulation of soft tissues affects so many of our bodily systems to facilitate the body's own healing powers.

The benefits of massage are extensive and affect the physical body as well as the mind and spirit. Massage therapy treatments will have a therapeutic affect and improve health by acting directly on the muscular, nervous, circulatory and lymphatic (immune) systems and even our emotional well being.

Massage treatments aim to:

• Develop, maintain, rehabilitate or improve physical function - Massage therapy has become a staple of many professional athletes and sports teams training regimens to enhance athletic performance and heal injury. But not just athletes. Lifestyle factors, such as long work hours, repetitive motions, or physically taxing tasks, lead many different people to seek the assistance of a massage therapist. A seemingly minor injury can have a profound impact on a person's ability to stay physically active, participate fully in life, or even make a living. Massage therapy can be one of the ways of preventing a lasting negative outcome.
• Relieve or prevent physical dysfunction and pain - Some massage therapy techniques are specifically recommended for sore muscle tissues. An overly sore muscle cannot function properly. By alleviating or preventing pain, dysfunction can be combated. Massage therapy releases endorphin (natures pain killers) to help mange pain naturally.
• Relax tight and tense muscles - Many people don't realize how much a tight muscle impacts on vital things such as posture. A tense muscle can throw off your body's balance. Before long, muscles that were not initially tight begin to tense as they compensate for other parts of the body. It becomes a chain reaction that can spread far from the initial problem spot. A talented massage therapist can identify the source of the problem and start working to alleviate the problem where it started.
• Improve circulation, recovery time and immune system function - The movements of massage cause blood to flush in and out of muscles and joints. This flushing process - enhancing circulation in the affected areas - can, in some cases, aid recovery time from injuries. With this high blood pressure can be lowered and reduce heart rate.
• Reduce overall stress - We're all becoming more aware of the role stress plays in health. People who are stressed, all other things being equal, are less healthy than people who are relaxed. Stress, for example, increases the risk of heart disease. Massage therapy is an effective and enjoyable way to reduce stress.

Massage therapy is also effective in the control of pain, chronic or acute, in stress reduction, and in creating a sense of relaxation and well-being. Massage therapy plays in integral role in preventative health care. A registered, skilled practitioner can become an important and integral part of your health care team.