Everyone has probably had a massage in one form or another, so you probably already know that it feels good and can help you relax. However, there are many different types of massage, and therapeutic massage can offer medical benefits. Here are a few examples.
1. Healing From Injury
Resolving symptoms in injured soft tissues requires good blood flow. Massage therapy can help by increasing circulation in the affected area to promote healing. However, it is important to have massage therapy by someone trained in the required technique at an Atlanta school of massage therapy or comparable program. Otherwise, massage may contribute to further injury.
2. Immune System Balance
Autoimmune disorders occur when the body’s Th2 immune response exceeds the Th1 response. The imbalance causes the immune system to start attacking the body’s own healthy tissues. Massage therapy can help bring the immune responses into better balance by slowing down stress hormones. While you cannot cure an autoimmune disorder with massage therapy, it can help you to manage your condition more effectively.
3. Improved Sleep
While it is true that adults need at least seven hours of sleep per night, the quality matters as much as the quantity. Pressure on your skin during massage therapy helps to slow down activity in your nervous system that prevents you from sleeping deeply. Not only does this help you get to sleep more easily, but it can also result in sleep that is deeper and more restorative, which offers health benefits of its own.
4. Reduced Anxiety
Beyond just helping you to relax, massage therapy may actually help to reduce the symptoms of anxiety. The theory is that massage stimulates the response of your parasympathetic nervous system, which is what calms you down after the sympathetic nervous system activates to help you deal with a perceived threat.
Massage therapy has many health benefits, but it is important to make sure that your massage therapist has all the necessary licenses and credentials.
