The ultimate guide to the benefits of massage.

Background information: "Massage is generally considered part of integrative medicine. It's increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations."

Benefits of massage: Massage is beneficial in many ways and can improve physical and mental well-being. "Studies have shown that massage may lower heart rate, blood pressure, boost immunity, decrease stress hormones, pain threshold and muscle tension as well as decrease depression."



Body benefits: In addition to reducing stress and increasing relaxation, massage also reduces pain and muscle soreness as well as increases circulation. There are even benefits for those suffering from migraines! The head should be massaged lightly using the fingers or knuckles on both sides to relieve this symptom. Massage also improves digestive function by improving gut motility.

Lifestyle benefits: Massage may improve sleep quality and quantity, energy levels, alertness, and more! "Some studies have found massage may help people with insomnia fall asleep faster and achieve deeper sleep."

Fibromyalgia benefits: Fibromyalgia is a condition that includes chronic muscle pain that can be quite debilitating. Due to the effectiveness of massage in treating this condition, many experts regard it as an important component of treatment for fibromyalgia. A systematic review of 10 randomized controlled trials suggested the use of massage has significant effect on relieving some symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.

Massage therapy has been studied for decades to prove it's effectiveness in various therapeutic settings. Massage benefits can include reducing stress and increasing relaxation, reducing pain and muscle soreness as well as tension, improving circulation, energy levels, alertness, lowering heart rate and blood pressure, improving immune function. While research confirms the benefits of massage particularly with chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia or migraines, studies also found massage to be helpful for anxiety disorders, depression, digestive disorders (such as irritable bowel syndrome), headache management, multiple sclerosis-related fatigue.

"Overall health benefits are not limited to these specific conditions. The effects of massage on the nervous system may also be helpful in the management of a wide range of symptoms, including neuropathy and other chronic pain conditions.

Massage Benefits!

In summary, the benefits of massage are as follows;

• Relaxation and stress reduction
• Reducing pain and muscle soreness, strain and tension
• Improving circulation
• Energy and alertness
• Lowering heart rate and blood pressure
• Improving immune function
• Anxiety
• Digestive disorders
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches
• Insomnia related to stress
• Low back pain
• Myofascial pain syndrome
• Nerve pain
• Soft tissue strains or injuries
• Sports injuries
• Temporomandibular joint pain
• Upper back and neck pain

The most important thing about a massage is to remain relaxed throughout it! "Most people enjoy a massage if they relax…A good masseuse will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed—not exhausted