It seems that most people believe massage therapy is used solely for relaxing physical and mental stress that accumulates in our bodies on a daily basis. People love to get massages on vacation, after a heavy work-out or even following a stressful week at the office. Put very simply, massage feels good. And although bodywork can often be a quick fix for muscle tension and emotional stress, many do not realize the long-term positive effects that it can contribute to your health.
The massage practice dates back to 3000 B.C. The earliest written records of massage therapy were discovered in Egypt and China. Ancient civilizations in the East and West found that massage could heal injuries, relieve pain, and prevent and cure illnesses. Massage therapy practices have been around for many Millenia, but not everybody is taking advantage of this art.
In 2010, 25% of women were using massage in their health regimen, compared to 26% in 2009. The percentage of all adults who had a massage in the previous 12 months dropped from 22% to 18% in 2009. This year, 32 percent of Americans said they received a massage for stress and/or relaxation in the last five years; compared to 36 percent last year. However, 85% of people in the U.S. agree that massage can be beneficial to your health and wellness. (Consumer Survey Fact Sheet)
What these statistics imply is that anyone who has received bodywork sessions, believes in its healing properties. But surprisingly, the number of people in the U.S. who are actually getting massages, is dropping. Another rate that is dropping, is the amount of Americans who are actually inquiring about massage therapy to their doctors. The less that people know about this type of therapy, the fewer who will receive it.
So what are some of the immediate results that you will see from receiving massage. Listed below are some the benefits that attract people to bodywork:
- Increases Circulation
- Enhances the Condition of Skin
- Loosens Tight Muscles
- Increases Flexibility
- Improves Mood
- Improves Sleep Patterns
Now, lets talk about some of the more long-term, preventative benefits of massage therapy. Massage affects our entire body, including each and every internal organ. By stimulating nerves that supply internal organs, blood vessels of these organs dilate and allow for greater blood supply. Getting proper blood supply and nutrients to our organs is vital to the longevity of our organs. Also, one of the key factors that makes massage so preventative is the fact that it greatly improves function of your immune system. This helps to keep illnesses from infiltrating and staying in your system.
And because massage prevents and helps treat so many chronic illnesses, I will list them below:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Autoimmune diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, and Multiple Sclerosis
- Hypertension
- Cancer
- Osteoporosis
- Osteoarthritis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Sciatica
- Gout
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Migraines
- Atrophy
I know from personal experience and from working in this field for 3 years, that massage prevents and heals chronic diseases that have been ailing people for years. I myself suffered weekly migraine headaches from age 20-24. After just 3 months of receiving regular massage treatments and 3 years later, I have had only a handful of migraines since. And I plan on continuing to receive bodywork on a regular basis in order to prevent migraines from debilitating me again.
This is a guest post by Sarah Minen. She graduated from the Utah College of Massage Therapy. Sarah specializes in Deep Tissue, Triggerpoint and Myofascial Treatments to better help clients manage their pain. She currently practices massage therapy in Utah. Contact Sarah today to talk about your chronic pain or to hear more about preventative measures to take for your health.