Proven benefits of Massage
Massage therapy provides numerous benefits, while clients often seek massage for pain relief, stress reduction, and relaxation, understanding the deeper, scientifically-backed benefits can help them recognise the full value.
In this blog, you will discover:
Detailed health benefits of massage therapy
The impact of massage therapy on various body systems
Let’s delve into the proven benefits of massage therapy and how you can improve conveying these advantages to your clients.
What Are the Proven Benefits of Massage Therapy?
Research demonstrates that massage therapy offers extensive benefits that significantly enhance quality of life. These include reducing pain, alleviating stress, anxiety, and depression, promoting relaxation and the release of feel-good hormones, easing muscle tension, improving range of motion, enhancing circulation, and more.
Studies conducted at the Touch Research Institute often focus on neuroendocrine substances, which play a crucial role in regulating mood, healing, and behavior. Here’s a summary of the confirmed benefits:
Increases Dopamine: Enhances fine motor skills, focus, enthusiasm, intuition, and joy.
Increases Serotonin: Helps regulate mood, cravings, and behaviors.
Regulates Epinephrine/Norepinephrine: Balances the autonomic nervous system, promoting calmness and better coping abilities.
Increases Endorphins: Lifts mood, manages pain, and promotes satiety.
Increases Oxytocin: Enhances bonding and feelings of connection.
Decreases Cortisol: Reduces stress, anxiety, and associated health issues.
What Does Massage Do for the Body?
Massage positively impacts multiple body systems, including the nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal systems. These effects result in a wide range of health benefits:
Increased Circulation: Facilitates nutrient delivery, joint lubrication, and muscle flexibility.
Positive Impact on the Nervous System: Induces relaxation or stimulates readiness, depending on the massage type.
Relieves Muscle Tension: Promotes muscle relaxation and improved range of motion.
Decreases Pain: Alleviates muscle-related pain and enhances overall pain management.
What Happens to Your Body After a Massage?
The release of "feel-good" hormones during a massage can persist for up to 48 hours, promoting ongoing healing and restoration. Some clients may experience therapeutic inflammation, akin to post-exercise soreness, which subsides within a few days, leaving muscles feeling significantly improved.
What Happens to the Brain After a Massage?
Massage often induces an altered state of consciousness similar to meditation, characterised by the release of restorative hormones and a shift in the autonomic nervous system. This state lingers after the massage, described by many clients as a "massage buzz."
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Massage Therapy?
Regular massage therapy serves as a preventive measure, contributing to enhanced well-being, improved mood, reduced pain and reliance on pain medications, increased body awareness, and better stress management.
How Often Should You Get Massages?
Massage therapy plans are personalised based on individual goals and needs. Treatment frequency varies from intensive sessions for injury recovery to regular maintenance for stress management. Therapists use clinic notes to track progress and adjust treatment plans accordingly.
This approach ensures that massage therapy not only addresses immediate needs but also supports long-term health and well-being.