How valuable are the benefits of massage therapy?

In Newsweek, April 6, 1998, Tiffany Field, Ph.D., founder of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami’s School of Medicine, "[These benefits] put massage in the same category with proper diet and exercise as something that helps maintain overall health." (Newsweek, April 6, 1998)

The benefit you receive depends upon the technique used, relaxation massage is very different from a massage to treat injury or improve alignment. So be sure to talk to your massage therapist and ask if that is what they offer.

Benefits:                

Stress Relief
Massage relieves stress by bringing about the relaxation response, which includes reducing blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, and the level of stress hormones (such as adrenaline and cortisol) in the body.

Better Circulation
Massage benefits blood and lymph circulation by increasing the flow, encouraging better exchange of nutrients at the cellular level, and promoting detoxification. This is important because the "future you" is determined by how well your cells regenerate today. Increased circulation also helps both prevent and relieve muscle tension—lack of circulation can lead to chronically tight muscles. In turn, constantly tight muscles slow circulation and do not receive enough nutrients.

Easier Movement with Less Risk of Injury
Massage relaxes tense muscles, enhances tissue elasticity and flexibility, and increases range of motion in joints. A flexible and relaxed body is better able to handle any movement you make, even the sudden, unexpected ones.

And More Helpful Massage Benefits
Massage improves your immune system.

• Massage improves sleep patterns. Sleep deprivation is a huge problem and the cause of many vehicle accidents.
• Massage promotes deeper, easier breathing and delivers more oxygen to the cells.
• Massage reduces anxiety and mental stress, creates a calmer, clearer mind.
• Massage speeds recovery from exercise by helping remove waste products from muscle cells.

Less Pain    
Another massage benefit is relief of muscle aches and pains which drain away energy that you could be using to pursue other activities.

Treatment of Soft Tissue Injury
Soft-tissue injuries (such as strains, tendonitis, ligament sprains, and whiplash) heal faster with specifically focused massage

Better Posture and Alignment
Your body works best when it is aligned properly. Better alignment means you move easier and are less likely to experience pain and injury.

In part, proper alignment means that your shoulders are level, your hips are level, your knees are directly over your ankles, and your feet point straight forward. Poor alignment stresses your body. For example, if one hip is forward of the other, it creates torque in your body that stresses muscles and wears away cartilage in joints.

The most important thing to remember about alignment is that bones do what muscles tell them to do. The key to restoring alignment is relaxing tight muscles and strengthening weak ones. A series of weekly, specifically targeted massage sessions can help restore good alignment. Just be sure you find a massage therapist who works specifically on alignment, because many do not.