Massage therapy: Helpful in blood circulation & good posture
Massage therapy is one of the oldest forms of treatment in the world. The earliest records are from China around 2700 BC. Massage therapy is a form of bodywork that involves the manipulation of soft tissue and joints. It is one of the most popular forms of complementary medicine. Massage therapy has been used for centuries to promote relaxation, relieve stress, aid in rehabilitation from injury, help with sleep problems, and more.
Types of massage therapy
There are different categories of massage present. These categories of massage and the method to perform it are called Modalities. Modalities have been performed for specific concerns or issues of the body.
Aromatherapy Massage
This type of massage involves the use of essential oils. Blending it with scents properly on the body promotes relaxation and energizes tissues. A massage therapist will also consult you to find out which essential oil suits you.
For example, cypress relieves muscle pain and tea tree builds the immune system.
Craniosacral Massage
It can be a good option for those who are looking for a gentle and non-invasive experience. The therapist performs this massage with light and still movements. It helps in restoring the central nervous system and improves the sleep pattern of the body. The craniosacral session often starts on a chair and then moves a person to the massage table. The therapist also checks in with you during the session to ensure that they are giving you the right level of touch.
Deep tissue massage
This massage focuses on relieving muscle tension. This is quite an effective method if you have a musculoskeletal disorder, chronic muscle pain, or posture problem. The massage therapist often uses different body parts here elbow, hands, and knuckles.
There are 2 important points to consider while choosing deep tissue massage
Avoid, if you have inflamed joints as the vigorous nature of this massage will make the condition even worse.
Deep tissue massage is different from deep pressure massage. Deep tissue focuses on layers of muscles while deep pressure focuses on the entire body
Hot stone massage
As the name suggests this massage therapy involves placing hot stones on your body and often using them to deliver massage. It allows the therapist to go deeper while using light pressure. The correct level of heat is a great way to reduce muscle tension and increase relaxation.
Myofascial massage
According to the misleading name it doesn’t actually relate to face. It’s related to fascia, a tissue that holds your arthritis, bones, organs, and muscles together. This therapy is designed to manipulate connecting tissue. During the session, the therapist will apply manual pressure on the area that feels stiff. This will help in improving restricted movement.
Sports Massage
This is a massage specifically tailored for athletes. Athletes usually take advantage of it before or after athletic events. This improves flexibility, wards off potential injuries, and reduces pain. The therapist often combines different massage techniques such as deep tissue massage and acupuncture to trigger the needs of the athletes.
Swedish Massage
In this a massage therapist applies kneading, and friction to loosen tight muscles and increase blood circulation. The therapist also applies some particular oils to ease movements. It is much related to the traditional way of delivering a massage that’s why it is also known as traditional massage.
Pregnancy Massage
It helps in easing aches and pains. It delivers various benefits to pregnant women including hormone regulation, reduced swelling, reduced joint and back pain, reduction in swelling, and improved sleep quality.
Reflexology Massage
This technique stimulates neural pathways and supports the optimal functioning of the body tissues. The therapist uses techniques like thumb and finger to stimulate various reflex points on the feet. This type of massage can be a good option for those who enjoy foot massage.
How does massage therapy help maintain the right posture?
The importance of healthy posture can’t be overstated as it is directly related to our body’s health. Massage therapy is important in improving healthy posture it does so in the following ways
Relaxing tense muscles | It helps in relaxing tense body muscles by using long strokes and mild pressure on the body specifically to the neck, back, and shoulders. The massage therapist applies a series of deeper penetrating strokes on your body that stimulates muscles to no longer remain in the contracted stage and enable the body to come back to its original posture. |
Pain relief | People usually feel pain in their lower back, shoulders, and neck as a result of bad posture. Massage helps to stretch sore muscles to improve body posture as they don’t feel overworked after massage. Massage also helps to remove toxins from the muscles with fewer toxins you will feel less pain and gradually helps in improving healthy posture. |
Enhance breathing | Poor posture disrupts the movement of air toward the lungs and diaphragm thus suffocation while breathing occurs. A good massage therapy will ease the upper body muscles, clear any breathing obstruction, and ultimately improve your posture. |
Reduce the risk of Arthritis | Regular massage therapy also helps in reducing the risk of arthritis. A common form of arthritis called osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage present in joints between 2 bones wears off causing bones to rub with each other. This causes intense pain and swelling. Much research has shown that poor posture is one of the causes of arthritis. Massage therapy stimulates the muscles and joints to increase circulation and keeps cartilage healthy and ultimately helping to contribute to maintaining a healthy posture. |
How Does Massage Therapy Improve Blood Circulation?
Anybody who has taken massage therapy or even just deep massage knows how it feels after massage.
Without a doubt, massage therapy helps improve blood circulation. The therapist applies the required pressure to your body. This pressure helps the blood move out of any congested area to enter the new area. This pressure applied also helps in improvement in the flow of lymph fluid which is responsible for transferring metabolic waste out of organs.
If a person has poor blood circulation, it can lead to a number of things.
- A cold body
- Swelling of feet and ankles
- Skin rashes
- Leg ulcers
Massage therapy helps in improving such situations because a proper circulatory system delivers oxygen-rich blood to the extremities that help in developing proper heat and nutrients inside the body.
Conditions Treated With Massage Therapy
It is often considered a good option for stress busting and relaxation. It is used to target various physical and mental health conditions.
Here are some conditions mentioned below that are quite effective when massage therapy is applied.
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Depression
- Digestive disorder
- Headache and migraine
- Insomnia
- Myofascial Related syndrome
- Sports pain injuries
- Temporomandibular joint pain
Is Massage Therapy Good For You?
It is well said that massage therapy should be taken after consultation with a registered therapist but what if you don’t have any references?
Here are some factors that you need to consider:
Overall Health Condition
If you have a severe illness like respiratory problems, cancer, or heart disease. Kindly consult experienced physiotherapists as in such conditions, you need some precautions.
Conditions Treated
Based on your conditions, you might need customized massage therapy. For instance, for pregnant ladies, physiotherapists provide a specific pregnant massage. Choosing the right massage therapy is an ideal option for good results.
Medications
Some medications may interact with massage procedures like blood pressure medicines, blood thinners medicines as well as osteoporosis medicines. Consult your physiotherapist in Surrey, BC and give them the whole details for better results.
Body Symptoms
If you are having any of the following symptoms including swelling, rashes, fever, weak bones from osteoporosis, swelling, and uncontrolled blood pressure. Better avoid massage therapy in such conditions.
Even if you still have any concerns that massage therapy is right for you or not, consult your doctor.
Massage therapy is an excellent addition for improving your overall health and well-being but make sure that it is the right decision according to your body conditions. Choose a certified and experienced physiotherapist, who can deal with your specific requirements.