Regular massage therapy has become a mainstream treatment option for a variety of common ailments.
Having problems sleeping?
Experiencing frequent headaches?
Feeling anxious or stressed?
Massage therapy has been found to help treat these issues and other common problems experienced by Canadians on a daily basis.
With new hands-on techniques designed to increase circulation, reduce stress, better sleep, and promote relaxation, regular massage appointments have helped everyday people treat recurring issues and live healthier and happier lives. Additionally, most major healthcare insurance companies cover a portion of the treatment costs and offer direct billing to make the process easier for the patient.
This post will break down five common health issues that can be treated with massage therapy: acute neck pain, recurring headaches, sleep, stress and anxiety, and digestive problems. If you are experiencing any of these issues on a day-to-day basis, learn how massage can help you live a better life.
#1 Acute Neck Pain
This one might seem obvious. Thousands of people use massage therapy to treat neck, shoulder, and back pain. But most of us tend to use massage as a tool only when the pain is severe. Meanwhile, others tend to live with mild discomfort, seeing regular neck pain as a sign of getting older or just “something they have to live with.”
According to the Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA), more than 11 million Canadians suffer from an injury or disorder that affects their movement. This includes chronic neck pain.
Do you work at a desk all day?
Do you regularly sit in an office chair hunched over a keyboard?
Do you work on your feet all day?
Does your job require you to perform a repetitive action?
Do you work-out regularly?
All of these situations can cause chronic neck pain that can be treated with massage therapy. Regular neck pain is usually caused by overusing or straining the muscles on a consistent basis.
A skilled massage therapist will learn more about your daily habits and create a treatment plan that focuses on your problem areas. By applying therapeutic pressure to your muscles, massage can release tension and alleviate the tightness in your neck.
#2 Headaches
Do you suffer from recurring headaches, tension headaches, or chronic migraines? If so, you know how debilitating they can be. There can be a variety of causes for different types of headaches that can range from chemical/hormonal imbalances, neurological problems, food sensitivities, and more.
Studies have shown that regular deep tissue massage treatments can help relieve some of the tension caused by recurring headaches. By lowering cortisol levels and improving circulation and blood flow, massage focuses on eliminating the tension and pain caused between the temples.
3. Sleep
Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? Do you have a hard time feeling rested after a long night in bed? Massage therapy has been known to help patients in all stages of life improve their quality of sleep.
Massage therapy has been shown to increase levels of serotonin in the brain which is a precursor to melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone made by the pineal gland that helps your body know when to sleep and controls your sleep cycles.
As massage encourages relaxation throughout the body and increases your serotonin levels, it sets the stage for a healthy influx of melatonin inside your brain which helps usher your body into a fulfilling sleep cycle.
#4 Stress and Anxiety
Due to Covid-19, Canadians are experiencing higher levels of stress and anxiety, including right here in Edmonton. Stress over health, finances, or employment can cause anxiety to rise and create a whole host of symptoms. Reducing stress involves both physical and mental relaxation. Massage therapy can help with both!
Cortisol is a negative hormone that is released from the adrenal gland. It creates increased levels of stress and anxiety and can actually suppress the immune system.
During a massage treatment, your brain releases endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine which promote positive feelings while simultaneously decreasing levels of cortisol in the brain. All of these factors work to decrease stress and promote a more relaxed mindset.
#5 Digestive Problems
Specialized massage therapy techniques can be used to treat digestive issues. By applying external pressure to the abdomen, massage can stimulate the movement of the digestive system. In fact, massage can also help your body metabolize nutrients and antioxidants better. This allows you to flush out toxins more readily helping with gas, bloating, cramping, and in some cases constipation.
Some patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) have reported lesser symptoms following a massage treatment. And because IBS worsens under stressful situations, massage therapy can help relax the body, eliminating stress which helps lessen the impact of IBS on the body.
Edmonton Massage Therapist
If you are experiencing any of these issues or other problems that are affecting your quality of life, massage therapy can help.
As a Licensed and Registered Massage Therapist, I take a detailed assessment of your needs while learning about your issues and lifestyle. Then, I formulate a treatment plan that will address your issues and help lessen some of the discomforts you feel on a regular basis.
Experiencing regular headaches or neck pain is no way to live. Struggling with sleep each night doesn’t have to be a part of your daily routine. Massage therapy can work to reduce the triggers that cause these problems and help you live a healthier, pain-free life.