The Benefits of Massage for Relieving and Reducing Pain, Including Chronic Pain Conditions
Massage is a great way to relax the muscles and can leave you feeling refreshed. It used to be considered an indulgence, but now studies have shown that therapeutic massage is a way to legitimately reduce pain.
How It Helps Relieve Pain
Massage helps relieve pain through several mechanisms. These include:
- Relaxing painful muscles, tendons and joints
- Decreasing tension
- Relieving stress and anxiety (which have been shown to increase pain)
- And can possibly help to “close the pain gate” by stimulating competing nerve fibers and impeding pain messages to and from the brain.
Therapeutic massage has actually become an active area of research, studying its effect on pain in the back, hands, neck, knees and other areas of the body. A study published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice showed a reduction in hand pain and an increased grip strength among people who had four weekly hand massage sessions and did self-massage at home. It also showed that participants slept better and had less anxiety and depression. Massage has also been shown to help with chronic pain as well.
Types of Massage Therapy for Pain Relief
A variety of massage types can be used to treat pain and chronic pain. These include:
- Sports Massage
- Deep Tissue Massage
- Remedial Massage
- Therapeutic Massage
- Myofascial Release
It is important to note that massage does not have to be painful to be helpful. Some people may find some forms of massage, like deep tissue, painful. For example, people with certain chronic pain conditions, such as Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, may only be able to tolerate light pressure. So be sure to discuss with your massage therapist if you prefer a lighter touch, firm pressure or hard pressure.
The Benefits of Receiving Massage for Pain Relief
We’ve looked at how massage can help relieve pain, but let’s dive a little deeper into the benefits of massage therapy for pain relief. There are other benefits to massage besides reducing or relieving pain.
One of the other benefits is an increased range of movement. When you receive a massage, it increases blood flow to the treated areas, causing the muscle temperature to rise. This in turn helps to relax and loosen muscles helping you have greater range of movement. When range of movement is increased through a reduction in muscle tension and tightness, pain is also reduced!
Massage also helps to increase relaxation both physically and mentally. By physically relaxing the muscles, you’ll experience a reduction in pain and the restriction of movement. By emotionally relaxing you, you can experience a decrease in stress and anxiety while increasing positive hormones such as endorphins. Stress and anxiety have been shown to have negative physical effects on the body, not just our mental health.
Finally, massage helps to relieve muscle tightness. Muscle tightness can restrict our mobility and can cause further pain. Relieving that tightness by increasing blood flow improves tissue elasticity and thus, reduces pain and restriction of movement that can cause further pain and damage.
Massage at the US Wellness Collective
We believe in a holistic approach to your health, treating your mind, body and soul! We also believe in a fully customized approach to massage therapy because no two individuals are alike! We offer a blend of unique massage techniques to leave you feeling relaxed and more pain free, including these specialities that you can incorporate into your session:
- AromaTouch Technique
- Reiki
- Reflexology
- Cupping
- Hot Stone
- TMJ
Book your appointment today! We offer sessions from 30 minutes long to 120 minutes long.