Personally I am a big fan of massage therapy, whether it’s deep tissue, Thai or aromatherapy for example.  I would love to say that I have a massage and come ‘floating’ out smiling as a lot of people seem to report, but regrettably this is not the case.  Invariably I stagger out looking bemused and feeling as though I’ve just come out of a boxing ring.  But in the longer term I couldn’t be without it and its many therapeutic benefits.

 

Not only can massage relieve muscle tension, tightness and stiffness, it helps improve muscle tone.  Furthermore a massage reduces inflammation and scar tissue, improves circulation, reduces tension headaches and the effects of eye strain, and increases the flexibility and movement of the joints.  

 

It also benefits all the systems in the body including: the circulatory system by increasing blood flow to the tissues and organs, and increasing the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the cells and tissues; the lymphatic system by stimulating the immune system, cleansing the body of built-up toxins, and removing lactic acid; the nervous system by stimulating the release of endorphins (the body’s natural painkiller), relieving restlessness and insomnia and calming the body; and the digestive system by stimulating the liver and kidneys and encouraging the body to eliminate waste.  A massage can also be effective in lowering blood pressure through relaxing the body and relieving congestion.

 

I have found massage to be a vital part of my pain management, having suffered fairly serious back pain since my early twenties.  One of the only things that kept me sane at times was having a massage.  I found a fantastic therapist, specialising in sports massage, aromatherapy and injuries, with a wealth of amazing knowledge that really helped and made a huge difference.  She also incorporated some trigger point therapy, lymphatic drainage and reflexology into each treatment.

 

Although therapeutic massage doesn’t increase muscle strength it can still stimulate weak or inactive muscles and can speed up the recovery from any injury.  It can also help reduce the inflammation and tightness linked with myofascial pain, which could be having a knock-on effect on muscle health too.

 

But it’s not just the physical benefits of massage therapy that are important; there are a large number of psychological ones too.  Massage (especially when combined with aromatherapy) aids relaxation and can decrease the effects of tension, depression, pain and anxiety.  It can also improve alertness, reduce stress, enhance calm thinking and create a feeling of wellbeing whilst enhancing the mind-body connection.