Massage Therapy
Do you find you are getting more headaches these days? Do you tend to hold a lot of tension in your neck and shoulders? Do you have a hard time falling asleep at night because your body just can’t get comfortable? If you answered yes to any of these, then you may be an ideal candidate for massage therapy.
Benefits of Massage
Besides feeling incredible, massage is generally accepted as a part of integrative medicine and is being used along with traditional treatments for a variety of illnesses and conditions. The benefits of massage include:
- Reduced stress and increased relaxation
- Reduction in muscle pain and tension
- Improved circulation
- Lowering blood pressure and heart rate
- Improved immune function
- Reduction in anxiety
- Helps with digestive disorders
- Alleviates fibromyalgia pain
- Relieves chronic headaches
- Helps with insomnia
- Helps with lower back pain
- And much, much more!
Different Types of Massage
While the term, massage, in general, refers to any rubbing or pressure applied to soft tissue, there are various types of massage that you may find beneficial.
Swedish Massage
When most people think of getting a massage, they are picturing a Swedish massage, which is a very gentle form of massage that uses long strokes and deeper circular motions. After receiving a Swedish massage, most people feel calm and relaxed, yet energized.
Deep Tissue Massage
As the name suggests, this modality uses more pressure is a technique often used to treat musculoskeletal issues. A deep tissue massage therapist will apply sustained pressure using slow, deep strokes to target the deeper layers of muscles and connective tissues.
Unlike other forms of massage that focus solely on relaxation, deep tissue massage is also used to treat muscle pain and stiffness. It’s for this reason that deep tissue massage is often recommended for individuals suffering from muscle pain, soreness or fatigue. The technique encourages blood flow which helps to loosen tight muscles and relax trigger points that cause knots and pulled muscles. This makes deep tissue massage great for rehabilitation and recovery from exercise or physical stress and strain.
Sports Massage
This modality is targeted approach to treating minor and chronic injuries. We use a wide range of techniques to realign and loosen muscle fibers in individuals who experience sport-related tension. It can also be used to improve posture and condition an athlete’s body so they can perform their best.
The type of sports massage used will depend on the injury or the needs of the individual. Usually, sports massage will incorporate soft tissue massage, deep tissue massage, and whole-body massage along with stretching techniques to assist in recovery and rehabilitation. Sports massage is often recommended for athletes or individuals who engage in regular physical activity and are prone to sport-related injury.
While the pressure can range from medium to deep, the main purpose of a sports massage is to target specific areas of pain or injury, and improve range of motion and muscle performance.
You Deserve to be Pain-Free and Healthy!
Many people feel that taking the time and/or spending the money to get a massage is too “indulgent.” But massages have little to do with “pampering” yourself and more to do with ensuring you are as healthy as possible. Sure, they feel awesome, but as you saw, massages also offer some profound health benefits.
If you have been struggling with muscular tension or pain and would like to get some help, please just give us a call. We’re happy to talk to you about what’s going on and come up with the best treatment for you.