8 Benefits of Massage Therapy

Alongside pain relief, a reduction in anxiety, stress and even depression is one of the benefits that research has linked to massage therapy.

Studies have shown that relaxation massage increases blood flow to areas of the brain and nervous system that are associated with mood and stress regulation. This causes cortisol levels to drop and alleviates other symptoms of stress, such as rapid heart rate, high blood pressure and shortness of breath.

If you suffer from panic attacks or bouts of extreme depression, regular visits to your massage therapist can have preventative benefits.

Relaxation massage helps encourage restful sleep by eliminating sleep disturbances like pain and stiffness. Additionally, it also helps relieve suffering from conditions that don’t allow you to rest comfortably. For example, it can be particularly effective for cancer patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. Massage is also beneficial for infants, helping them sleep more deeply and even cry less often.

Patients suffering from chronic conditions like fibromyalgia, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and even IBS and Crohn's disease often experience stiff, sore joints. This can severely limit your range of motion. To treat these conditions, your RMT can use a variety of massage types of moderate pressure to avoid potentially worsening flare-ups.

For many people, the average workday can consist of sitting at a desk for eight hours a day. For others, it requires manual labour. Either way, it’s difficult to remain conscious of your posture all day. These repetitive activities can lead to back pain and muscle tension throughout your shoulders, neck and legs.

Deep tissue massage uses slow, firm pressure strokes to reach deeper into the muscles, which can reduce muscle soreness by up to 30% and even improve your range of motion. It’s also useful for pregnant women who experience increased stress on their back, shoulders, neck, and abdominal muscles.

Before massage therapy became a go-to for your average joe, athletes were using it to not only treat sports-related injuries but also to improve their overall game. Depending on what sport you play, a sports massage specifically targets the group of muscles you use the most. This can help increase your blood flow, improve your range of motion and treat injuries. Sports massages are even useful for decreasing your risk of injury.

Sports massages are similar to deep tissue massage, with faster strokes and additional techniques like compression and pressure point therapy. If you are heavily involved in sports, your RMT may recommend that you visit as often as three times per week.

Muscle knots and adhesions can affect your range of motion, and cause pain, inflammation and even affect your circulation. This can either be a result of scar tissue build-up or painful bands of rigid tissue. Both can be physically broken down with a deep tissue or trigger point massage to bring better mobility and relief from pain.

If you’re prone to knots and adhesions, your RMT may recommend more frequent visits, or prescribe preventative exercises to do at home.

Some health conditions — like fibromyalgia and lymphedema — can cause lymph fluid to build up in your bodily tissues. This can make it difficult for your body to efficiently remove waste and toxins, resulting in a painful build-up.

Lymph fluid accumulation causes inflammation in the affected area, most commonly the arms and legs. It’s also common with infections, and among cancer patients who have had their lymph nodes removed. A lymphatic drainage massage slowly eases the muscle around the affected area with long, gentle strokes, allowing the lymph fluid to circulate freely and ultimately reducing the pain and swelling.