Dont forget your body can use some "TLC" at times and massage therapy can also offer numerous benefits for your physical, mental, and emotional health. There are different types of massage therapy, each with a different focus and technique, such as Swedish, deep tissue, and sports massage.
In this article, we tell you all about:
- The different styles of massage.
- Benefits of massage therapy.
- Conditions that benefit from massage.
- Dealing with chronic pain through massage.
- Dealing with injuries using massage.
Styles of Massage
- Swedish Massage: is the most common and recommended for relaxation
- Deep Tissue Massage: is great for muscle soreness and chronic muscle pain
- Sports Massage: is designed for athletes and active individuals to prevent and treat injuries and enhance recovery.
Benefits of Massage
Massage therapy can benefit many different patients, including those with:
- Tuscle tightness
- Muscle tension
- Stress
- Pain
- And even those looking to improve their range of motion and flexibility.
- It can also improve circulation
Conditions Treated With Massage
Massage therapy is generally considered safe when performed by a trained and experienced practitioner and has been shown to be helpful in preventing injuries and managing painful conditions such as:
Chronic Pain + Massage= Managing Your Pain
Chronic pain can be reduced through massage. For a pain to be termed as "chronic" it will be ongoing pain lasting 12 weeks or more. The most common causes of chronic pain are injury or long term illness. However, chronic pain can arise for a range of reasons. Chronic pain can occur in any part of the body and can increase stress, anxiety and sometimes depression. A massage aims to interrupt the pain cycle in order to reduce and relieve any pain and prevent it from reoccurring.
A massage for chronic pain can help decrease tension. Tension is where muscles are unable to relax and stay in the state of contraction. Tension can cause muscular knots or adhesions to form and muscle tightness to increase, further increasing feelings of chronic pain. Chronic pain can increase tension due to a restriction in movement. Sometimes those knots are very painful. If direct pressure is too much, a technique called "cupping" is an excellent way to work those problem areas without too much discomfort.
In our office, we say movement is medicine! If movement is restricted, it is the body's response to prevent pain and damage from increasing. A massage for chronic pain can reduce tension by encouraging relaxation and increasing range of movement. During a massage, muscle temperature increases due to an increase in blood flow. Blood flow brings more oxygen to the tissue, which is important because if there is a lack of oxygen, that increases that knot formation. Additionally, when muscle temperature increases, the elasticity and flexibility of tissues increase and muscles are able to loosen and stretch. When muscles loosen and stretch, relaxation increases, reducing tension. An increase in tissue elasticity and flexibility, improves range of movement to help further reduce a build-up of tension. Reducing tension by improving range of movement and increasing relaxation also helps to decrease pain.
If you want to improve your overall well-being or recover quickly from an injury or manage pain, consider adding massage therapy to your routine. Ask our well-informed team if adding a massage to your treatment plan is right for you, as it has so much to offer.
In conclusion, taking care of your body periodically is essential to prevent any unnecessary aches and pains. And if you're looking for additional ways to improve your physical, mental, and emotional health, consider adding massage therapy to your routine.
Call our office today to find out more about Lake Effect massages and how they can benefit you!
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