Everyone should take a time out to get a relaxing massage from a registered therapist now and again, especially in the case of a nagging injury or strain. However, there are other reasons to get a massage beyond the relaxation and pain management benefits.
Getting an expert massage from a trusted therapist can have immediate and lasting results. Since National Massage Therapy Awareness Week is coming up (October 23 to 29), let’s have a closer look at eight ways massage therapy can improve your overall well-being…
1. Reduces Stress
The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) knows that stress is a visitor in everyone’s life. While some people turn to self-medication to relax, massage is a healthy and drug-free way to promote calm, according to the association.
The source cites a study that looked specifically at trigger point therapy, designed to release knots in muscles that are actually causing discomfort in another location of the body. The study showed a reduction in heart rate and blood pressure, along with a drop in cortisol (a stress hormone) after a 15-minute chair massage.
