Bodywork Benefits
What is therapeutic massage?
Therapeutic massage is defined as the manipulation of muscles and other soft tissues of the body to obtain or maintain health and promote well-being. Archaeological and historical evidence indicates that massage has been a healing method for thousands of years in many regions of the world. Today, it is one of the safest modalities of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to be practiced in the United States.
The Healing Power of Touch
Receiving regular bodywork has a number of positive effects on your emotional and physical well-being. It can:
- Accelerate recovery of musculoskeletal injuries
- Boost the immune system and increase production of natural killer cells
- Calm the nervous system
- Decrease muscular pain & tension
- Enhance athletic performance
- Heighten mental alertness & concentration
- Improve flexibility & range of motion
- Increase muscular nutrition by bringing blood & oxygen to the muscles
- Lessen stress, fatigue, & anxiety
- Lower blood pressure & heart rate
- Raise self esteem & body awareness
- Release endorphins & enhance mood
- Stimulate weak, inactive muscles
While massage therapy does not replace standard medical treatment, studies have shown that it may also be beneficial for people suffering from the following conditions:
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Anxiety & Depression
- Asthma
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Autism
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches
- Hypertension
- Insomnia
- Low back pain
- Lyme Disease
- Lymphedema
- Multiple Schlerosis (MS)
- Neck & shoulder tension
- Parkinson's Disease
- Physical & emotional stress
- Poor blood circulation
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
- Rhematoid Arthritis (RA)
- Scar tissue formation
- Sports & repetitive motion injuries
- Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction
Massage Contraindications
Massage therapy is contraindicated for a number of medical conditions. Consult your healthcare practitioner if you are unsure if massage therapy is right for you.
It is important to complete the health history portion of your client intake form and provide updates to your massage therapist if there are any significant changes to your health.
Additional Resources
Massage Therapy Foundation - Public
NIH - Backgrounder: Massage Therapy as CAM
MayoClinic.com - Massage: A relaxing method to relieve stress and pain
Web MD - Massage Therapy for Stress Relief and Much More
Holistic online.com - Benefits of Massage
