Although massage is often used at spas for relaxation, the therapy also offers many health benefits aside from easing stress. If you have certain medical conditions, you might use massage as a complementary therapy in addition to conventional treatments. Before you begin receiving massage therapy, talk with your doctor about whether massage is right for you and a safe complementary treatment for your medical condition.
Types
There are nearly 100 different types of massage techniques, each with its own unique function and benefits, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Trigger point, sports, Swedish, aromatherapy, lymphatic and craniosacral massages are among the most common types. Other massage types include myofascial release, reflexology, polarity therapy, integrated touch and compassionate touch massage. Swedish massage is among the gentlest types, while sports massage is similar to Swedish massage but focused more on helping athletes prevent or treat sports injuries, MayoClinic.com explains. Deep-tissue massage is also a common type, involving more force in the massage technique than Swedish or sports massage. Deep-tissue massage is typically practiced on people who have injuries or other types of muscle or connective-tissue damage.
Benefits
Massage appears to relieve stress, ease anxiety and manage depression, MayoClinic.com says. Massage may also ease pain, stiffness and aches, as well as improve immune-system function, growth in infants and blood-pressure control. Due to these health benefits, massage is often beneficial for supporting cancer treatments and treating sports injuries. Various massage techniques appear to calm or stimulate your muscles and body tissues, as well as stimulate circulation and improve healing of damaged muscles, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Massage also seems to stimulate your lymphatic system to clear wastes from your body and your body's release of endorphins and other stress-relieving hormones.
Uses
The health benefits of massage are most commonly used to improve healing and ease pain related to musculoskeletal problems, such as injuries, arthritis, fibromyalgia and chronic lower-back pain, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Massage might also help in treating chronic constipation, sleep disorders and high blood pressure. Massage is sometimes recommended as a complementary therapy for people who have depression or cancer, MayoClinic.com says. Massage appears to improve sleep, digestion, alertness and mood in infants. In fact, premature infants who are massaged regularly seem to gain weight faster than babies who don't have massage. Children can also benefit from massage, particularly if they have autism, eczema, type 1 diabetes, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, cystic fibrosis, bulimia or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Dangers
Despite the many health benefits of massage, this therapy cannot replace conventional medical treatments for most conditions, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. Although massage is considered fairly safe for most people, you should consult your doctor before using massage in the treatment of a medical condition. Also, massage can pose some health risks for certain individuals. For instance, you should check with your physician before undergoing massage therapy if you have any undiagnosed or unexplained symptoms, blood clots, cancer, open wounds or unhealed burns, bone fractures, osteoporosis or rheumatoid arthritis, MayoClinic.com cautions. You should also talk with your health care provider before undergoing massage if you're pregnant. Although rare, certain types of massage like deep-tissue therapies can cause internal bleeding, nerve damage and even temporary paralysis. Aromatherapy massage and other types of massage that use essential oils or lotions can sometimes cause allergic reactions as well.
Member Comments