If you’re struggling with anxiety, a study suggests that massage can actually help significantly reduce your symptoms. “What we think is going on is it’s decreasing the sympathetic tone that we observe in those with generalized anxiety disorder and increasing the parasympathetic response,” says Dr. Rapaport who led the study.
The body has two distinct nerve systems, the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. “Your sympathetic is fight or flight,” says Rudy Gehrman, DC, a sports medicine chiropractor who founded Physio Logic in New York. “If you’re being chased by a lion this is your sympathetic nervous system.”
During a massage, however the parasympathetic (or relaxing) response increases and this causes a decrease in anxiety, says Dr. Rapaport.
And equally great news? Those effects of massage on decreased anxiety may be long-lasting. “We carried out a brief follow-up and a large percentage of these people remained anxiety-free anywhere from six months to 18 months after,” says Dr. Rapaport.
Sleep more soundly
Do you struggle to sleep or suffer from insomnia? Massage is a great way to assist you in a deeper sleep. “Sleep is all about how much activity there is inside the brain,” states Field. Also, when you have massage therapy, your nerve system itself actually slows down because of the pressure.
In addition, when you’re having a deeper, more restorative sleep, she says, that in turn reduces the levels of substance P (a neurotransmitter for pain) which can reduce overall pain. Therefore, if you’re experiencing any pain, massage can do double-duty.
Fight fatigue
We’ve all been there. You’ve been tossing and turning all night, it’s been exhausting at work, and you feel like you’re barely able to take the time to sit down for a deep breath. “Some people are fatigued due to the fact that they’ren’t sleeping enough,” says Dr. Rapaport. “Other individuals are experiencing fatigue because of some biological factors.”
However, regardless of what the reason for your fatigue, one simple solution is (you already knew it) a massage. Indeed, a 2018 research conducted by Dr. Rapaport found that breast cancer patients who had weekly Swedish massages experienced a reduction in fatigue, a particularly debilitating effect of the disease. To experience the greatest benefits, based on Dr. Rapaport’s study, try taking a massage twice a week.
Aid certain health conditions
The body has two distinct immune responses: Th1 and Th2, and they need to be balanced to ensure that your immune system working at its peak Field says Field. “If Th2 is in excess of the Th1 system and you develop an autoimmune problem,” she says.
While you 서울홈타이, you’re decreasing the stress hormones to help maintain this equilibrium, she says. It can aid in making autoimmune conditions, like asthma or type 1 diabetes or dermatitis more manageable through things like decreased fatigue or pain.
Increase focus
Have trouble staying present during a meeting that lasts more than 10 minutes or you are having trouble reading a book before bed? The effects of a massage can actually improve your ability to pay attention and concentrate.
That’s because in order for you to concentrate at the highest level your heart rate needs to be lower. “If I’m not paying attention, it’s due to my heart rate being elevated,” says Field. “And once I’ve got my heart rate lower I’ll be more focused.”
Since massages slow down the nervous system, your heart rate will be reduced, too. When you massage, your pressure receptors stimulate vagal activity that originates from a nerve within your brain that is responsible for a myriad of parts of your body which includes the heart, states Field. If you’re experiencing the stress of a massage it might slow down your heart rate in turn, which can improve your concentration.
Heal injuries
If you experience joint pain or injury (especially in cases where the problem is chronic or lasts for a long time), says Gehrman there’s a chance that you’ll have what are called soft-tissue restrictions that cause knots or trigger areas of pain. “Massage Therapists are working to rid themselves of these restrictions, and also expanding the circulation of blood,” Gehrman writes.
The restrictions may, over time, lead to problems like joint decay or other ligament-related issues. So by actively massaging out these soft-tissue limitations that you’re aiding in healing your current injury, but also helping avoid other problems down the road. However, the most important aspect to consider in getting a massage to treat your injury is to choose an qualified, licensed massage therapist that has years of experience treating injured patients.
“Because any kind of work on soft tissues, you’re essentially causing scientific damage when you go in a way that is too deep, the patient won’t recover from the treatment,” says Gehrman. A qualified, licensed massage therapist will be able to assess which areas around the injury need massage and which ones are the best to stay clear of.
Are there any potential risks to massages?
There aren’t any documented risks of massage, if you’ve got any medical history that involves things like cancer, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes, these are things that you must make your massage therapist aware of and seek out someone who is experienced dealing with the particular issue.
Pregnant women must also find an acupuncturist with pregnancy experience–“For pregnant females you need to be very, very careful regarding your positioning,” says Gehrman.
Osteoporosis sufferers should seek out an osteoporosis therapist who has experience in this area, too. “You can easily potentially damage ribs or bones in the event that a person is, really osteoporotic,” says Gehrman.
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