Approximately 41% of adults in the US seek massage therapy to relieve chronic pain and stress. Studies have shown that a massage can be an effective treatment for reducing anxiety, stress, insomnia, and chronic pain.
An age-old practice, massage therapy has been acknowledged and recommended by healthcare providers for its ability to promote relaxation and if included in a comprehensive treatment plan, can also help manage chronic conditions.
Alleviates Muscle Pain
Do you have muscle pain? Aside from massage therapy from a professional, doing self-massage can help.
You can use your hands to press and apply pressure on an area of your body where you feel pain, or you can also use different percussion massagers.
These are devices that provide percussion massage on your body, striking your skin 2000 to 3000 times per minute, and facilitate blood flow to your target area.
As a massage gun increases blood flow, inflammation and soreness automatically reduce.
In general, massage also relieves back pain. In a study involving 262 patients that were published in the Archives for Internal Medicine, researchers found that massage was better at acupuncture and patient education in relieving back pain.
You can make use of a tennis ball placed between your back and the backrest of a chair to give yourself a back self-massage.
Simply move your back to roll your ball across your back’s target areas.
Improves Blood Circulation
There are many benefits of improved blood circulation – faster wound healing, reduced pain, and soreness.
But more importantly, improved blood circulation is essential for optimal health. It helps to keep your organs healthy, keeps your brain sharp, and can even make your skin look good.
If you have a headache, massaging your temples in a circulation motion and rubbing your face from your temples to your eyebrows can help boost circulation and reduce inflammation in your head.
Or, if you feel pain on your calves after going up a flight of stairs, applying moderate pressure and stroking them can help in alleviating pain.
Alleviates Stress and Anxiety
Mental health issues plague American adults and one of the ways people can reduce their mental stress is by engaging in activities that offer rest and relaxation.
Though optimum relaxation from a massage can be achieved instantly with a professional therapist, there are ways you can practice self-massage to lower stress and anxiety.
One study on trigger point massage therapy showed significant reductions in heart rate and blood pressure, helping to put the body in a relaxed state.
Buying manual massage tools can help – you can use a wooden foot massager, an electric back massager, and other devices you can use to give yourself a relaxing massage.
It’s important to note, however, that self-massage must only be done with mild pain or mental health issues.
If the pain is too intense, self-massage can even make the situation worse.
If you have cancer, an injury, burns, or other medical problems, it’s best to consult your doctor before engaging in any self-massage activities.
Giving yourself a massage can just be as beneficial as getting one from a massage therapist.
You can use your own hands, or you can buy massage devices, or you can even use simple objects like tennis balls to soothe your muscles and give you relief.
The most important thing, however, is you take the time to focus on your health and well-being, and one of the best and simplest ways you can do this is by giving yourself a good massage.
