What are the benefits of massage therapy?

"The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well." ~ Hippocrates

Massage is one of the oldest therapies in the world, dating back some 5,000 years. There is evidence that every culture throughout the world has used massage in some form or another, and every language, ancient or modern, has a word for massage.

While the last decade has witnessed an awakening in massage therapy research, there is still much to be done. One barrier to further gains in public and medical community acceptance is the relatively modest base of research on the efficacy of massage therapy. Intuitively, many users find massage helpful, but some nonusers continue to wait for proof of scientific effectiveness.

Benefits of Massage

A 1986 Touch Research Institute study at the University of Miami showed pre-term babies who received massage therapy had 47 percent greater weight gain and six-day-shorter hospital stays than infants not receiving massage.
Oncology patients show less pain, fatigue, nausea, anxiety and depression following massage therapy, according to a study by Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 2004, and a report in the Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 2002.
Massage therapy reduced chronic back pain in relation to other complementary techniques, according to a 2000 report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
The American Journal of Public Health reported in 2002 that massage therapy reduced the frequency of headaches.
Research has shown massage reduces the symptoms of repetitve strain injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome. The Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2004.

Massage can relieve tension in your muscles, and most people use it for relaxation, relief of stress and anxiety, or to reduce muscle soreness. Massage can also cause your body to release natural painkillers called endorphins, and it boosts your immune system.

While more research is needed to confirm the benefits of massage, there is significant evidence indicating massage therapy is helpful when it comes to:

Anxiety - Massage reduced anxiety in depressed children and anorexic women. It also reduced anxiety and withdrawal symptoms in adults trying to quit smoking.
Immune system - People with HIV who participated in massage studies showed an increased number of natural killer cells, which are thought to defend the body from viral and cancer cells.
Juvenile diabetes - Children who were massaged every day by their parents were more likely to stick to their medication and diet regimens, which helped reduce their blood glucose levels.
Labor pain - Massage during labor appears to reduce stress and anxiety, relax muscles and help block pain. Some medical professionals believe it also reduces tearing, shortens labor, reduces the need for medication and shortens hospital stays.
Pain - Pain was decreased in studies of people with fibromyalgia, migraines and recent surgeries. (Also supported by a 2005 Consumer Reports readership survey in which deep-tissue massage was voted an effective treatment for back pain, arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia.)
Self-esteem - Direct touch is thought to boost the self-esteem of people with physical disabilities and terminal illnesses, as well as providing reassurance to children with pronounced physical disabilities.
Sports-related soreness - Massage may reduce muscle soreness through increased blood flow to muscles.

Treat yourself today with a massage tailored to the individual needs of your body using healing elements from a variety of massage techniques. Holistic Health & Bodywork© for the mind, body and soul. Call today to schedule your getaway: (631) 943-2202.