Physiological Benefits of Massage Therapy

Many of us head to a Registered Massage Therapy clinic to enjoy some time to relax and ease tense muscles.  Few of us realize that there are plenty of other surprising benefits that we’re receiving with each massage. Numerous studies and research support the many benefits of massage therapy for the entire body. Here are just a few of the important physiological benefits that you’ll experience from a manual soft tissue massage, whether a relaxation or a deep tissue type of massage.

Reduces Pain and Inflammation

We all know that Registered Massage Therapy canreduce pain and tension in muscles, but did you know it also helps withinflammation? Massage Therapy can reduce the production of pain-relatedcytokines, which play a major role in inflammation. Massage doesn’t just help withsore and achy muscles. If you suffer from chronic tendonitis,  headaches or migraines, you might also benefitfrom massage.

Promotes Relaxation

Human touch is both incredibly therapeutic andrelaxing. By touching the skin and applying pressure, Registered Massage Therapistscan relax muscles, tendons and ligaments instantly. Massaging has also beenshown to decrease cortisol in the body, which helps you enter into a morerelaxed state.

Aids In Digestion

Patients can also experience improvements withdigestion following a massage. The pressure can help to stimulate the digestivetract, decrease digestive tract cramps and spasms, and also relax theintestinal and abdominal walls. Some patients even report experiencing reducednausea and constipation following a massage. Digestion is a process that the body follows best while in a relaxedstate.  Since Massage Therapy can inducerelaxation and cause the Parasympathetic Nervous System (relaxation side of thenervous system) to kick in, it optimizes the bodies ability to digest.

Stimulates The Circulatory System

Getting a therapeutic massage can stimulate andencourage balance in the circulatory system too. This includes improvements tothe surface and lymph circulation in the body, which in turn, helps to increaseblood flow, lower blood pressure, remove toxic metabolic waste, and improveoxygen and nutrient delivery.

It Boosts Immunity

If you’re prone to illness, you might want to trya massage to boost your immunity. Various studies have shown that a massage canalso increase the number of white blood cells in your body that play a role infighting disease. By reducing inflammation, a massage can actually help toalleviate conditions such as cardiovascular disease, depression and asthma.

Helps Regulate The Respiratory System

You can also reset your respiratory system with arelaxing massage. It will help to regulate respiration and reduce tension inthe muscles that support breathing. And it can even promote deeper breathing inpatients and improve overall respiratory diaphragm function.

Maintains Bone Health

Even your bones will benefit from a good massage,especially if you suffer from osteoporosis. In fact, getting one regularly canimprove your posture, balance and reduce stress on bones and joints. If youhave a sports injury or fracture, it can also help your bones to retainimportant minerals and nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, which canspeed up the healing process.

Aids in Skin Regeneration

Want to look and feel younger?  Don’t we all! Massage Therapy can promote skincell regeneration, increase blood flow and improve vasodilation. Some peoplealso experience an improvement in the elasticity and resilience of the skin.

As you can see, there are many more physiologicalbenefits of massage therapy beyond healing muscle and joint pain, and relaxingthe body. At Inertia Physio+, we offer varying degrees of massage to achievemany benefits, as discussed above. These include deep tissue massage,relaxation massage, and sports massage to target specific ailments. Our RegisteredMassage Therapists have years of experience in helping patients maintain andheal their body. To book your appointment and take advantage of thesereplenishing benefits, contactus today!