Massage therapy benefits physical and emotional well-being, according to the Mayo Clinic. It relieves anxiety and depression symptoms, raises immunity and reduces certain types of pain. It comes in many varieties, from a simple Swedish massage to specialty treatments like hot stone therapy. Hot stones provide additional benefits for certain conditions, including sore shoulders.
Description
Good Spa Guide, a spa information site in the United Kingdom, describes hot stone massage as a technique that uses smooth, heated stones as well as the therapist's hands. The stones are often coated in aromatherapy oils to enhance relaxation or promote wellness during the treatment. They are used to massage your body and are also placed on acupressure points. Hot stone massages are offered at many spas, fitness centers and massage clinics. They can be used to target certain problem areas, including sore shoulders. The therapist can focus his work on one or both shoulders, depending on where your pain is centered.
Types
Most stone massages use hot stones, but Good Spa Guide explains some versions incorporate cold marble into the treatment. The hot stones relax tension in the shoulders. The heat is soothing, which helps ease soreness. Frozen marble is meant to stimulate the nervous system, so stick exclusively with hot stones if your massage is mainly focused on shoulder pain relief. Most hot stone massages last between 60 and 90 minutes, with the therapist concentrating most of the time on your shoulders.
Benefits
Shoulder pain is common due to sports injuries, general injuries and daily activities at work and home, such as using a computer for many hours at a time. The Mayo Clinic says that massage therapy manipulates the skin, tendons, muscle tissues and ligaments in a targeted area like the shoulders. This releases stiffness and eases pain. Heat from the hot stones enhances the effect. The Mayo Clinic states massages can prevent injuries when your sore shoulder has healed.
Considerations
You may have some mild discomfort during your hot stone massage if the therapist is using deep-tissue techniques to treat your shoulder problems, but you should not feel pain. Let the therapist know if her pressure is too deep, either with the stones or her hands. The Good Spa Guide also advises telling her if the stones are uncomfortably hot. They should have enough heat to give your shoulder some therapeutic benefit, but they should not burn your skin.
Warning
A hot stone massage is not a substitute for proper medical treatment of a sore shoulder. Pain can indicate a serious problem that may need more intense care, including surgery. Get a doctor's diagnosis and recommendation before using hot stone therapy to manage your shoulder pain. Some doctors may advise a physical therapy program along with regular massages.
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