Massage Therapy Benefits & Applications

Comprehensive health management

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is one of the oldest methods of healing, as the practice of therapeutic massage can be traced back nearly 4,000 years. Statistics from both Health Canada ¹ and the American Massage Therapy Association ² show that millions of North Americans use it today.

Massage therapy refers to a comprehensive health management strategy focusing on the application of various techniques to positively affect the soft tissues and joints of the body. Massage techniques most commonly include pressure and compression, kneading, friction, and mobilizing to improve the health and condition of the muscles, tendons, skin, fascia or connective tissue of the body.

Today massage is thought of as a holistic therapy that complements medical treatment. The "Physician's Guide to Therapeutic Massage" shows that massage can decrease pain, improve range of motion, improve mood, aid in the circulation of blood and lymph flow, reduce muscle and joint soreness, and improve sleep.

Benefits

Many people benefit from Massage Therapy. Whether you are in search of help in injury recovery and rehabilitation, looking for a healthful way to deal with day-to-day stress or simply interested in maintaining good health, Therapeutic Massage is a safe and effective form of complementary health care.

Provides Relief

Massage Therapy has been shown to provide relief from the following disorders:

Back pain
Headache
Muscle pain
Joint pain
Limited Joint Mobility
Chronic Muscle Fatigue

Treats Health Conditions

Therapeutic Massage may also be considered an important treatment choice for the following conditions:

Anxiety
Depression
Tension
Mental Stress
Insomnia
Arthritis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Headaches
Circulatory Problems
Asthma

Improves Rate of Recovery

Massage is frequently recommended to improve the rate of recovery from injury including:

Minor Sports Injuries
Recurring Stress or Repetitive Strain Injuries
Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorders

Applications

Through the Life Span

The Touch Research Institute, University of Miami, has completed many research studies on massage therapy. These researchers have found evidence that massage has significant benefit for babies, children, adults, and elderly persons. Massage therapy has been shown to enhance growth in premature babies in the hospital, calm aggressive adolescents and help kids with Attention Deficit Disorder. Elderly persons in nursing homes have responded to massage with decreased agitated behaviour.

On the Job

Corporations and other institutions are discovering that massage therapy programs for employees pay off. Job stress has been identified as a serious health care issue related to decreased productivity, decreased job satisfaction, increased work related injuries, errors and absenteeism. Research reported in the Financial Times ¹ , and in Massage Therapy: The Evidence for Practice ² show that massage is a good approach for reducing work stress.

Stress, Depression and Immunity

Massage therapy studies have shown positive results in boosting the body's own natural cellular immune response, decreasing pain by pumping up the body's levels of endorphins and decreasing the blood levels of cortisol which is a hormone related to stress. These beneficial results are proving helpful for people with critical illnesses like cancer and HIV infection and for those who suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia.

Sports

Athletes, coaches and professional trainers use massage. Massage therapy is used at sporting event to help athletes performance and to help prevent injury. Massage may improve muscle recovery and decrease muscle soreness after exertion. Athletes also benefit from the therapy's positive effects on heart rate and blood pressure and the general relaxation response that reduces anxiety and improves mood ³.

Pregnancy and Childbirth

Receiving Massage therapy is safe and beneficial during pregnancy. Many women enjoy the skilled care of a massage therapist to help to alleviate back, neck, and shoulder pain associated with changes in the body during pregnancy. The general benefits of increased circulation and enhanced well-being are valuable therapeutic effects. Specially trained massage therapists can even participate during childbirth to help decrease pain and anxiety.

Note: Therapeutic Massage is being prescribed by physicians more and more to complement traditional medical treatments for illness, injury and pain relief. Always seek the advice of your physician before starting any new treatment plan.

¹ Health Canada (2003)Health Policy Research Bulletin. Retrieved May 10, 2005, from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iacb-dgiac/arad-draa/english/rmdd/bulletin/mainstream.html#page6
² American Massage Therapy Association. (2001). Massage Therapy Consumer Fact Sheet