The Health Benefits of Massage
Human touch has long been accepted as having a powerful effect. A hug can lift our mood. A parent’s kiss can make even the worst scrape seem survivable. Is it possible that we really do have healing power in our hands? Read on and decide for yourself ...
Handle Children with Care – and Often!
Studies at the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine suggest that 15 to 20 minutes of parent-child contact daily in the form of massage can improve a range of problems including diabetes, asthma and insomnia. How so? Well, in the case of diabetes, studies reveal that children given daily massages for one month were more likely to comply with dietary restrictions and to take their insulin as prescribed. Logically, patients who comply with their treatment regimens have better health outcomes. In children with asthma, massage therapy produced improvements in anxiety levels and in some measurements of lung function. Sleep problems in infants and toddlers were more than twice as likely to be resolved if they received massage therapy.
Good for Grown-ups, Too!
Adults report the benefits of regular massage as well. More of us than ever are flocking to health clubs, day spas, 20-minute back rub storefronts and even private massage therapists. The message is clear: This is not merely a quick fix, it’s a health fix.
“I’ve made regular massages a part of my life for the past year,” says one 32-year-old father of two. “I find I have fewer headaches, and I’m more limber and more energized. Even a day or two after the massage, I just feel better overall. I also feel more relaxed and better able to focus at work.”
And that may be the key to the health success of massage therapy: stress reduction. As massage stimulates our powerful sense of touch, it brings us into the present and away from the tension generated by constant preoccupation with problems. Also, loosening of muscle tension – your body’s physical defense against psychological stress – can lead to the healthy freeing of repressed emotions. As the body is relieved of stress, the immune system is able to operate more effectively, helping it fix what’s ailing. In short, we feel better! Related to this immune boost is the fact that massage is known to enhance circulation of both blood and lymph. (Lymph is a bodily fluid that carries impurities and waste away from the tissues.) Improved circulation of blood helps to keep our cells “well fed” with oxygen and nutrients, while improved circulation of lymph helps to clear out the waste from this process.
Massage is also known to increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood by 10-15 percent. This finding, which can sometimes be seen just after the massage and probably does not last for a long time, is still encouraging because it means that as a result of massage, our blood is actually able to feed the cells of our body more effectively. While massage does not directly increase muscle strength, it can speed recovery from fatigue that occurs after exercise. In addition, this healthful art of the hands has been shown to have positive effects on the nervous system, enhance skin condition, improve joint function and help prevent sports injuries.
What Kind, How Often?
Today, there is a proliferation of different systems of massage: “Therapeutic,” “Holistic,” “Swedish,” “Sports,” Neuromuscular” ... and the list goes on! The important thing to remember is that true massage therapy should include some form of kneading, pressing or stroking with the use of pressure and movement, no matter how slight the touch or how often it is used. Most sessions last about an hour and frequency really depends on individual need and the therapist’s recommendations.
The best way to find a qualified massage therapist is to get a referral from a friend or a health professional who is knowledgeable about forms of complementary health care. The massage therapist you choose should be accredited or approved by a credible agency such as the Commission for Massage Training.
