How Can Massage be Medically Beneficial?
People find that therapeutic massage can help with a
wide range of medical conditions, including:
- Allergies
- Anxiety and
stress
- Arthritis (osteoarthritis
and rheumatoid arthritis)
- Asthma and
bronchitis
- Carpal tunnel
syndrome
- Chronic and
temporary pain
- Circulatory
problems
- Depression
- Digestive disorders,
including spastic colon, constipation and diarrhea
- Headache, especially
when due to muscle tension
- Insomnia
- Myofascial
pain (a condition of the tissue connecting the muscles)
- Reduced range
of motion
- Sinusitis
- Sports injuries,
including pulled or strained muscles and sprained ligaments
- Temporomandibular
joint dysfunction (TMJ)
Massage
Therapy and Well-Being: Mental Benefits
- Fosters peace
of mind
- Promotes a
relaxed state of mental alertness
- Helps relieve
mental stress
- Improves ability
to monitor stress signals and respond appropriately
- Enhances capacity
for calm thinking and creativity
- Satisfies needs
for caring — nurturing touch
- Fosters a feeling
of well-being
- Reduces levels
of anxiety
- Increases awareness
of mind-body connection
Also,
massage has been shown to stimulate the production of T-Cells. T-cells play
an important role in the immune response system of the body.
Studies
done at some different Universities
- Medical school
students at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, who were
massaged before an exam, showed a significant decrease in anxiety and respiratory
rates, as well as a significant increase in white blood cells, suggesting
a benefit to the immune system.
- Preliminary
results suggested cancer patients had less pain and anxiety after receiving
therapeutic massage at the James Cancer Hospital and Research Institute in
Columbus, Ohio.
- Women who had
experienced the recent death of a child were less depressed after receiving
therapeutic massage, according to preliminary results of a study at the University
of South Carolina.