Health Benefits of Massage
Massage Carlsbad CA has many benefits, from easing back pain to improving mood and energy. However, it’s important to find the right therapist and type of massage for you.
Massages trigger the relaxation response, which can help decrease heart rate and blood pressure and reduce stress hormone levels in the body.
Your circulatory system is responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients throughout the body to help keep you alive and working properly. It helps bolster your immune system by increasing the movement of white blood cells to protect against infection and disease. Massage is an excellent treatment to improve circulation and can positively impact your overall health.
During massage, the physical manipulation of soft tissue causes a relaxation response. This in turn stimulates the blood vessels and improves circulation by decreasing muscle tension. In addition, the effleurage massage technique of long stroking strokes with flattened hands and fingers encourages your muscles to stretch, allowing for more oxygen to be transferred from blood to muscles, which enhances cell health and promotes healing.
Massage also increases venous return, which is the rate of blood flow back towards the heart. This increases blood circulation to the muscles of the body and also enables your lymph flow to drain excess fluids and metabolic waste that contributes to swelling from muscles and joints.
Increased circulation through massage increases your energy as well because muscle cells are better able to get the oxygen and nutrients they need to function optimally. It also reduces the build-up of lactic acid in muscles, which is associated with fatigue and decreased range of motion.
Your blood circulatory system also plays an important role in your digestive tract, as it delivers nutrient-rich blood to the cells of your gut and other organs. The relaxation response and improved circulation from massage also stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which causes your heart rate to slow down and promotes rest-and-digest activities such as salivation, lacrimation (tears), digestion and urination.
While poor circulation has some obvious negative effects such as pain in your legs and arms, it can also have more serious consequences including memory problems, erectile dysfunction in men, digestive issues, fatigue and even blood clots. Getting regular massages and improving your own circulation can help prevent these conditions as well as other common health problems.
Stress reduction is one of the most important health benefits that massage can provide. Whether it is due to work, relationships or illness, constant high levels of stress can lead to a variety of mental and physical health problems. Massage decreases these levels by lowering the heart rate, increasing relaxation and releasing feel good hormones. It can also boost the body’s production of melatonin, which helps regulate sleep cycles. The kneading and stroking motions of massage also help to break down knots in the muscle, which are known to be sources of tension.
In addition, studies have shown that massage increases the activity in the left frontal cortex of the brain, which is associated with positive moods. It has also been found that after a massage the vagal nerve is stimulated which lowers cortisol and reduces the “fight or flight” response that causes stress.
The endorphins, serotonin and dopamine that are released during massage all have different psychological effects but together they all offer a sense of well-being and calmness that can ease stress. These neurotransmitters help to reduce anxiety, boost the immune system, and ward off depression.
People with chronic diseases or illnesses often experience elevated levels of stress, which can make their condition worse and create a vicious cycle. Regular massage has been found to decrease this stress and improve the overall quality of life for those with chronic conditions.
Taking even 10 minutes to rest and relax can activate the parasympathetic nervous system which is your body’s built in stress relief mechanism. Studies have found that this is due to the lowered cortisol levels and increased serotonin that are produced during massage. This allows you to focus on what matters most and to overcome any difficulties in a calm and focused state. It’s no wonder then that people who receive regular massages have a lower risk of developing a mental health condition such as anxiety and depression. In fact, some studies have shown that these individuals are able to handle stress better than those who do not get regular massages.
If you suffer from chronic sleep problems or simply struggle to get a good night’s rest, you know how detrimental this can be to your overall health. A lack of sleep can lead to weight gain, depression and a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Massage can be an excellent tool to help you overcome a sleep disorder or just improve your quality of life in general.
A number of issues can cause poor sleeping habits, such as tense muscles, pain and anxiety. Massage is known to stimulate the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers and mood elevators. It also decreases cortisol, a stress hormone, and increases serotonin and dopamine levels. This decreases stress, which in turn promotes relaxation and makes it easier to fall asleep.
Another issue that massage can help with is insomnia, which is characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep. It can be caused by stress, certain medical conditions, or other lifestyle factors. A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that a combination of massage techniques, including muscle stretching, deep circular movements, tapping and kneading, was effective in reducing the symptoms of insomnia.
For those suffering from sleep problems that are related to menopause or cancer, massage can offer relief. One study found that massage improved the quality of sleep for women in menopause, as well as improving their overall health and well-being. Massage has also been shown to improve sleep for breast cancer patients undergoing treatment.
A final issue that can cause sleeping disorders is Restless Leg Syndrome, a condition in which you experience tingling or creepy-crawly sensations in your legs that make it difficult to fall asleep. Massage is a great way to alleviate these symptoms, as it has been shown to increase the circulation of blood to the extremities and relieve tension.
Aside from feeling more relaxed and energized after a massage, there are few side effects from this form of therapy. Some people may feel light-headed or sleepy after the massage, but these feelings are temporary and should go away within a few hours.
Getting regular massages helps to strengthen the mind-body connection. This can give you more energy to get through the day. It can also reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. The body releases feel-good hormones like endorphins and oxytocin, which numb the triggers that cause these emotions. Many people report that they feel more energetic after a massage than they did before it.
During a massage, the therapists will use different strokes and pressure techniques that enhance blood flow, remove waste products from tissues, stretch ligaments and tendons, relieve pain and tension, relax muscle knots, increase oxygenation and flexibility, as well as promote tissue repair. Some of the most common massages include Swedish, deep tissue, and shiatsu. During a shiatsu massage, therapists use their thumbs or elbows to apply pressure to the body’s energy pathways known as meridians. This technique is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
TCM practitioners believe that energy, or qi, flows through these pathways throughout the body. Blockages in these pathways can cause a variety of symptoms, including fatigue. Massage has been shown to increase qi and improve muscle function, so it can help increase energy.
A study on patients with cancer found that receiving a specialized massage called manual lymphatic drainage decreased swollen nodes and increased the movement of lymph fluid, which clears toxins from the tissues. This reduced the overall inflammation in the patients and improved their immune system.
Research has shown that massage can boost energy levels, particularly in those who exercise regularly. It increases the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to muscles, which can improve endurance exercise performance. It also increases the speed at which muscle cells are able to recover from workouts and decreases post-exercise soreness.
Getting regular massages is beneficial for all types of athletes. It is especially important for those who participate in high-impact sports such as soccer, basketball, tennis, and football. These athletes can benefit from massage because it decreases muscle soreness and increases recovery time. It can also help to prevent injuries and decrease muscle fatigue and weakness.
