Relaxation Redefined

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Welcome to the world of therapeutic massage and its transformative effects on mind and body.

Have you ever felt like taking a long shower after a hectic day at work? Do you feel relaxed after it? Did you ever feel relieved or calmed after a long and tight hug from your loved ones during stressful situations?

Giving pleasant tactile stimulation to our bodies has been an age-old practice to relieve tension.

The nice rub you give your scalp while in the shower and the tight hugs from loved ones are the most common practices we do that simulate massage, emphasizing the need for touch therapy in human bodies.

Understanding Therapeutic Massage

In simple terms, therapeutic massage is a hands-on approach to improve overall well-being.

It manipulates the brain by stimulating the body’s soft tissues, bringing about an overall well-being effect.

Touch is the most primitive sensation developed by living organisms, and it is the most common form of expressing love and care across all species.

Touch can affect a Person's mood. Have you ever seen a baby stop crying immediately after being held by its mother?

Ancient Indian and Chinese medical care included massage therapy in the process of treatment of long-term diseases.

There are many touch-based therapies, such as massage, Rolfing,(1) where deep pressure is applied to the muscles to improve them, and the Alexander technique, which involves exercises and hands-on therapy to improve general well-being. (2)

Different techniques, such as Swedish, deep tissue, and aromatherapy massages

Swedish massage uses Effleurage (Gentle stroking along the length of a muscle), petrissage (pressure along the width of the muscle), friction (deep massage by circular motions of thumb and fingers), kneading (squeezing across the width of the muscle), and tapotement (light slaps/karate chops) techniques during massage.

Aromatherapy uses essential oils or bath oils while massaging, which helps calm the mind and body. It is an age-old Egyptian practice that blends nasal and tactile sensory stimulation (basically activating your smell and touch sensation) to relax the individual.

Deep tissue massage helps in relieving chronic muscular pains, especially in non-inflammatory conditions. In inflammatory conditions like myositis, lupus, and other disorders, this therapy is contraindicated.

Hot stone therapy, as the name indicates, uses hot stones to relieve muscular tension but it is used along with massage and never as an independent therapy.

Reflexology is a Chinese massage technique that believes the energy (chi) flows through the body I

In a pattern. When the person is stressed, this energy is blocked and leads to various problems. Reflexologists identify these block points on the feet, hands, and ears depending on the complaint, and pressure is applied on those points to relieve the blocks

Mind Benefits of Therapeutic Massage

How massage therapy can alleviate tension and promote relaxation.

Researchers claim that massage can help improve an individual's emotional state by increasing blood flow to the brain.(3) It increases the release of serotonin and dopamine, the happy neurotransmitters secreted by your brain, making you feel relaxed and energized. Massage helps reduce anxiety by improving sleep quality.

Massage practitioners also claim that it improves the self-image of individuals with physical disability.

The cognitive benefits of massage include improved focus and concentration

As discussed earlier, massage helps increase cerebral blood flow and enables you to think better.

Aroma Massage therapy, in particular, is beneficial for dementia patients, (4) helping them combat the agitation and depression caused by the illness.

A study claims that Acupoint massage therapy helps improve cognitive ability in older adults.

The role of massage in boosting mood and reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression

As said earlier, the sensation of touch can change the mood of any person. The feeling of being loved and cared for is what humans crave at the end of the day, and massage can be the solution for those who stay away from their homes.

Cortisol is the fight-or-flight hormone that rises during stressful situations. Massage therapy reduces cortisol levels and increases serotonin and dopamine levels, enhancing mood.(5)

Studies show that massage is helpful for terminally ill patients (like cancer patients) to reduce their anxiety and depression.

Body Benefits of Therapeutic Massage

How massage helps release tight muscles and alleviate physical discomforts

Chronic Stress, vigorous exercise under improper guidance, and maintaining improper posture for a long duration are some of the causes of chronic pain. Massage therapy can help to relax the stiffness in the muscles by activating the appropriate pressure points.

Some diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and lupus arthritis, can also produce muscle stiffness. The pains in these conditions do not respond well to steroids. Massage therapy can alleviate the pain in these patients to a significant level and improve the quality of life.

Patients with Parkinson’s disease experience rigidity/tightness in their muscles in the course of their illness, and massage therapy has been proven to relieve the stiffness in such conditions.(6)

Pain Management: The role of massage in reducing chronic pain and improving overall comfort

Chronic pain caused by non-malignant causes like headaches, neck pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome and all those complaints that have no proper causation have been well handled by massage therapy as per recent research.

One of the leading causes of chronic pain without any underlying illness in today's world is improper sitting posture for a long time. Massage therapy can help relieve the pain by improving the blood supply to the muscles and reducing the tightness.

How massage therapy enhances blood flow, leading to better oxygenation of tissues.

Pain is the body's cry for help. All the tissues in the body need oxygen for survival and functioning, and a lack of oxygen causes pain. Massage therapy focusing on specific painful muscles can improve blood supply to the tissue and help reduce the pain.

Customize sessions to address individual needs and preferences

Just like any healthcare professional would take a careful history before starting treatment for your problem, a massage therapist would also take a brief history of your complaint.

He would then plan the treatment.

The massage process includes seven self-explanatory steps:

1. Assessment and Evaluation of the case - understanding the problem

2. Plan of care - deciding on how to act

3. Treatment - the massage process

4. Reassessment and Reevaluation - followup

5. Health messages - care to be taken by the patient following massage therapy

6. Document - reviewing the outcomes

7. Closure

Depending on the area of involvement in your body, the therapist focuses on that area to release the tension. These treatments are tailor-made and differ from person to person.

Niche massage modalities like hot stone massage or reflexology for specific wellness goals

Some therapies focus on achieving specific types of outcomes. Hot stone massage combines pressure and heat to treat muscle aches, making it a go-to option for sore pains.

Aromatherapy is well known to treat depression and anxiety associated with diseases. (7) It helps in enhancing the mood.

It is also known to be of great help in headaches, insomnia, and menstrual disorders. Deep tissue massage can help relieve arthritis pain and, according to some studies, reduce high blood pressure.(8) Reflexology helps relieve the tightened muscles and reduce stress.

Simple self-massage techniques can be incorporated into your daily routines for ongoing benefits

You can do massage all by yourself by following simple steps

• Always use the tip of your fingers

• Place them on the painful part

• Give circular motions slowly

• Use any plant-based oil at a lukewarm temperature for a more pleasant experience.

Self-massage for 20 minutes daily can help combat chronic pain and reduce painkiller consumption. Depending on your comfort, you can do it just before showering while watching TV or when you are in the waiting line.

An excellent long head massage can also help reduce stress and anxiety.

Debunking Massage Myths

Myth 1: Massage is only for relaxation and luxury

I used to think the same until I started hearing from patients about the relief they experience after massage.

Chronic pains due to degenerative diseases do not usually respond well to painkillers after a specific time. Massage can be a better solution for all those people suffering from it.

Myth 2: Massage is painful and uncomfortable

It is not uncomfortable. The massage therapists take in the complete details of the pain and then start the process depending on the severity.

The primary purpose of massage is to alleviate the pain, so it feels very relaxed after a good, long massage session.

Myth 3: Massage is a temporary solution with no long-term benefits

Any disease requires a regular treatment plan to be cured. Massage therapy must also be done regularly to eliminate the illness you face. But once you are free from it, the chances of recurrence are less.

Massage helps to improve your thinking ability and gives you the strength to fight the disease. So massage therapy, of course, offers a long-term solution to your problems.

Bottom Line

Key benefits of therapeutic massage for both mind and body

In a nutshell, massage therapy helps improve the blood supply to the tissues, thereby increasing the mental and physical activity.

It helps in reducing stress by increasing the happy neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine) and reduces tension in the muscles. Patients suffering from cancer and dementia have shown improvement after massage therapy in terms of reduced anxiety and depression.

Prioritize self-care and explore the transformative power of massage therapy

Self-love and self-care are the two things that we should never forget. Your body is the only place you live in. You are responsible for treating it well with all the love and kindness.

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