Can Massage Therapy Relieve Your Pain or Help With Depression?

Once upon a time, massage is only available through luxurious spas and elite health clubs. Now, massage therapy can be found in clinics, businesses, hospitals as well as airports.

The rising popularity of massage therapy is because of its significant benefits and provide overall well being, particularly in relieving body pains and even anxiety or depression.

But, can massage therapy really relieve your pain or help with depression?

What is Massage Therapy?

In a massage therapy, a professional therapist will manipulate, rub, or press your soft tissues, tendons, and muscles in order to enhance their function and promote relaxation. Massage can range from deep pressure to light stroking.

For 3,000 years, massage therapy has been used in China in order to help ease physical pains or aches, calm the mind, improve mood and reduce feelings of depression.

The Different Forms of Massage Therapy

1. Trigger Point Massage

This type of massage focuses on areas of tight fibers and muscles which can form in your muscles after overuse or injuries.

2. Swedish Massage

A gentle form of massage which uses tapping, vibration, deep circular movements, kneading and long strokes in order to help relax and energize your body.

3. Sports Massage

Quite similar to Swedish Massage, however, sports massage is geared toward people who are involved in sports activities in order to prevent or treat injuries.

4. Deep Massage

This type of massage uses more forceful and slower strokes in order to target deeper layers of connective tissues and muscle in order to help with any muscle damage from injuries.

5. Shiatsu

This type of massage uses firm pressure to particular points on the body, similar to acupuncture, The pressure applied if firmer than other types of massage and rarely produce stiffness afterward.

6. Chair Massage

Is the latest type of massage nowadays. You will need to sit on a special massage chair and lead towards the headrest. The chair automatically massages you through vibrations. This massage has only short sessions and does not need for you to take off your clothes.

7. Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy combines massage with scented or aromatic oils like lavender in order to help reduce stress and boost your energy.

Massage Therapy for Pain Relief

Massage therapy is probably the most natural way to relieve physical body pains. Many studies revealed that massage therapy is quite effective in reducing pain. When connective tissues and muscles become rigid or stiff, it can cause you pain and limit your every movement. With massage therapy, you can have relief from tensions in your connective tissues and muscles as well as increasing blood flow and promotes relaxation.

How Massage Therapy Relieves Pain?

• Reduces Inflammation
• Decreases swelling around nerves and relieve “pinching”
• Relieves tension around joints and improves comfort and range of motion
• Improves lymph and blood circulation
• Increases efficiency of oxygen and nutrient delivery to muscles and tissues
• Speeds up wound healing
• Help keep joints lubricated
• Decreases swelling

Massage Therapy and Depression

Massage therapy is known to help in making you feel better and improve your mood. And if you are suffering from anxiety or depression, then getting a massage therapy can help soothe your mind and improve your mental health.

According to the American Massage Therapy Association or AMTA, massage therapy can help decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression including:

• Overeating or appetite loss
• Insomnia
• Difficulty in concentrating, making decisions or remembering
• Fatigue or low energy levels
• Loss of interest in hobbies or activities, including sex
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and/or helplessness
• Persistent “empty”, anxious or sad feelings
• Persistent pains or aches, cramps, headaches or digestive problems

How Massage Therapy Eases Depression?

According to the Touch Research Institute of The University of Miami School of Medicine, massage therapy can help in:

• Improves an overall sense of well being
• Improves sleep pattern
• Decreases substance P levels (a pain messenger)
• Decreases circulating stress hormones
• Increases serotonin levels (the happy hormone)

Conclusion:                                              

So, can massage therapy actually in relieving pain or help with depression?

Yes! Absolutely yes!

Now only does your body get relief from all the pain and stiffness, learn more here how to feel more relaxed and calms your mind— all pointing to one thing: making you feel better.