Many people see massage as a luxury treatment for pampering themselves, but the benefits of a full body massage go far beyond relaxation. Regular massages reduce anxiety and stress, ease tension in the neck and alleviate crippling back pain. They also boost the immune system by reducing cortisol levels and increasing feel-good neurotransmitters like serotonin.
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Relieves Stress
Many people seek massage therapy to decrease stress. It is effective because regular massages stimulate the body’s natural release of happiness hormones, including serotonin. This helps to lower the cortisol levels in your body, which reduces feelings of stress and anxiety. Studies have found that just 10 minutes of touch can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for calming the body and relieving the effects of stress. Combined with a relaxing, complete massage Hollywood, FL, the effect can be even more significant. Regular massages can also help improve blood circulation, delivering more oxygen to the muscles and allowing them to heal faster. This can reduce muscle soreness after exercise and increase flexibility. This is important for athletes because it means they can continue to train hard and return to their sport with minimal recovery time. In addition, it can help to reduce the risk of injuries and chronic conditions.
Boosts Your Immune System
Research shows that massage boosts the immune system, helping fight infections. Swedish massage’s effleurage (long strokes) and petrissage (short, kneading motions) help circulate lymph throughout your body, aiding the body’s ability to process metabolic waste and send disease-fighting white blood cells where needed. Additionally, the pain-relieving effects of massage reduce cortisol levels in your body, which is a significant immunosuppressant. The less stress and inflammation you have, the easier it is for your body to defend against antigens, which are viruses, bacteria, chemicals, and allergens that can cause illness. One study found that massage increases a type of white blood cell called T-lymphocytes, which help your body fight infection. They also discovered that a single hour of massage significantly increased the participants’ white blood cell counts, a sign of a robust immune system. In addition, participants showed lower levels of cytokines, a group of molecules that play an essential role in inflammation and are associated with conditions like asthma and cardiovascular disease.
Increases Flexibility
A regular massage helps increase flexibility in muscles. Flexibility is the ability of a muscle to move through a full range of motion without injury. This is important for physical fitness and can reduce mental stress. Tight muscles restrict flexibility. However, massage stimulates the release of endorphins in the body, which act as natural painkillers and decrease tension, allowing flexibility to be restored.
Additionally, massage increases the temperature of tight muscles by creating friction over an area, enabling the muscle tissue to expand and loosen through familiarisation and vasodilation. Massage has many benefits beyond just relaxation and relieving stress. Incorporating massage into a regular wellness routine can help increase flexibility, improve posture and balance, and boost athletic performance. It can also improve the health and longevity of joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. This makes it a must for anyone looking to live a healthier lifestyle. It can also help with mental clarity and promote a healthy sleep cycle.
Reduces Anxiety
Despite the obvious physical benefits, massage also helps alleviate mental distress. During massage, the body releases feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine, which reduce anxiety symptoms and enhance mood. Anxiety disorders often accompany sleep disturbances and muscle pain, which can be eased with regular massage. Studies have shown that a full-body massage can significantly decrease anxiety. One study involved emergency nurses randomly assigned to receive a series of 10-minute slow-stroke back massages or no massage throughout ten sessions. The researchers found that the immediate anxiety score of those who received a massage was reduced by 45%. Another study compared the effectiveness of massage with standard medical care in treating anxiety and pain in chronic diseases such as fibromyalgia. The researchers concluded that massage significantly decreased anxiety, pain intensity, and nocturnal leg cramps. It also reduced blood pressure and heart rate in both groups.