Three Ways Massage Therapy Benefits Your Overall Health
Massage therapy isn’t just a luxury splurge when you are on vacation, it can actually be a key piece of your overall health and wellness. Regular massage therapy has been shown to ease pain and reduce inflammation while also working to reduce stress and anxiety. Below are three ways massage can benefit your overall health.
Massage Therapy Helps with the Symptoms of Autoimmune Disorders
ccording to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, there are more than 100 autoimmune diseases. More than 50 million Americans are diagnosed with one or more of them and about 75% of those diagnosed are women. But what is the definition of autoimmune disease and can massage therapy really help?
Ordinarily, the immune system defends the body against an outside infection. However, in someone with an autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakes the body’s own cells, tissues, or organs as foreign and attacks them as such. And while each of these 100 diseases impacts people differently, the one thing they share is inflammation. Essentially, they are all inflammatory diseases and while there might not be a cure, massage therapy can be incredibly helpful in keeping the inflammation in check.
Best Massage Techniques for Shoulder Pain
When shoulder pain rears its ugly head, massage therapy can be effective for certain types of pain, but it really depends on the cause. It’s important to understand your injury and know when seeking massage therapy is appropriate. Here are a few shoulder injuries where massage can really help relieve pain.
Bursitis is one issue in which massage can help. Bursitis happens when fluid-filled sacs (known as bursa sacs), become inflamed and swell due to repetitive or excessive use of the shoulder joint. While massage cannot reduce swelling or inflammation, it can release the muscle and tendons in the joint that is causing the pressure on the bursa. Applying ice right after the massage can help to reduce inflammation.
5 Massage Techniques for Managing Stress
These five techniques are the best for managing stress and anxiety. Try them all to see which one works best for you! While most forms of massage therapy will work to relax you and decrease your stress levels, these five are often considered the most effective.