22/04/2021
4 Benefits of Massage
Therapy
1. It can relieve chronic pain — including headaches.
If you have pain in your lower back, neck or shoulders, you know it can be tough to find relief. You might try home remedies, such as stretching or heating pads, but still find yourself suffering from pain that just won’t go away.
Or, you may be a victim of frequent headaches, such as migraines or tension headaches. These can be just as stubborn and, similar to chronic pain, they can put a damper on your daily routine. Whatever your ailment, massage therapy may be the savior you never knew you needed.
“One theory why massage is able to combat pain is called the ‘gate theory,’ which says your brain can’t fully recognize pain when touch receptors are activated in the area,” says Dr. Luis.
This can occur when a massage therapist is rubbing your lower back, neck, shoulders or head.
Think about it the last time you bumped your elbow or your knee: was your first instinct to rub it? If so, you’re not alone, and you’re not necessarily wrong to do so. You may be activating the gate theory in a subconscious attempt to soothe the area that’s in pain.
2. It can boost your mood, relieve anxiety and fight depression.
Massages go hand-in-hand with resorts and fancy hotels, and there’s a reason for that — they simply ooze relaxation. While this may partially be because you’re on vacation, there’s also scientific evidence that suggests why massage therapy can improve your mental wellness.
Dr. Luis explains, “Hormones can have a significant impact on your stress levels, and massage therapy may be able to reduce the negative impacts and increase the positive ones. For instance, the stress hormone cortisol has been shown to drop more than 30 percent with massage therapy — and feel-good hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin, have been shown to increase by the same amount.”
This calming effect may be a result of the pressure massage puts on pain receptors under the skin, which can stimulate the vagus nerve — a major player in the nervous system. A relaxed nervous system can slow your heart rate down, lower blood pressure and impact hormones that are related to stress.
Of course, massage therapy a
