The massage industry in the United States (1) rose 1.1% last year while reaching approximately 17 billion U.S. dollars in 2020. It means people are finding it useful in relieving physical and psychological problems. Basically, massage means rubbing, pressing, and manipulating skin, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. It comes with tons of mental and physical benefits and varies a lot in terms of methods.
You’ve come to the right place to learn more about the soothing and healing power of massage therapy in the treatment of physical and mental health problems.
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The 6 Surprising Benefits of Massage Therapy
Massage is best known for providing soothing and healing effects because of its wide range of benefits for the healthy and unhealthy body. For instance, a research study by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) indicates that 28% of consumers considered massage for stress relief. At the same time, 50% of adults choose massage therapy as the go-to treatment for their medical or health issues. So, let’s learn about the benefits you can get from massage therapy.
1. Stress Relief
Most people fall asleep while getting the best massage therapy, which shows the level of relief of a massage. When it comes to stress relief, getting a regular massage once a month releases pain-killing endorphins into the blood on a regular basis. As a result, it causes the effect of eliminating emotional stress. You can say that it trains your body in dealing with different kinds of stresses while first training your body to get massage therapy.
Furthermore, in the past, it was used as the best cure to release stress for years. Recent studies (2) also confirm that it releases chemicals like endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine into the blood that make you feel better. At the same time, it also reduces cortisol levels, high blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen consumption while keeping the body at an optimal level.
2. Improves Posture and Flexibility
Most people consider massage therapy alone for getting a flexible body and improved posture. They clearly feel more stretching in their body as they move. Besides, regular stretching will help keep the body pain-free. You allow for a fuller range of motion in all directions. Besides (3) relieving pain and instantly recovering injuries, it helps you get a better posture while making the backbone straighter to prevent the curves that make you look older.
3. Improves Sleep Quality
The very first thing that gets disturbed when you get sick is your sleep. Also, it’s the primary thing that you have in quality when you’re healthy. So, we can conclude that at some level, better sleep quality is directly linked to better health. In that case, massage therapy facilitates the body in having quality sleep while relieving pain and stress. Most importantly, it isn’t limited to any specific age group, and instead, people of any age can get this benefit from massage therapy.
Furthermore, research showed that an infant of about six months found more peaceful sleep and cried less when going through some massage therapies. At the same time, another study showed that it has the same impact on adults as well. In addition, a research study (4) shows that abdominal massage therapy also deals with insomnia by giving the patient quality sleep.
4. Increase Blood Flow
As you know, injuries quickly recover when there’s a healthy blood flow. In that case, Therapeutic massage allows blood circulation to and from the internal body organs and muscles while improving recovery, healing, and body growth. A study (5) conducted by the University of Illinois at Chicago proves that massage therapy clearly shows increased blood circulation.
5. Ease Muscles Pain
Massage therapy works the same as rubbing your elbow when you hit it on the table to relieve pain. Most importantly, getting a massage is significantly helpful (6) in the treatment of chronic back pain. Besides, hand arthritis and knee osteoarthritis get cured through massage therapy.
6. Strong Lower Back
There was a time when adults spent their days doing outdoor activities. However, these days, mobile devices and tablets have kept the new generation’s life busy while keeping their heads down, which leads to lower back pain. In curing pain, a Therapeutic massage has proved the most successful among all treatments.
The 6 Most Popular Types of Massage Therapy
There are tons of massage therapy types, but you have to know about the popular ones. Knowing about these types is important to help choose the best one for efficient results. As the types are particularly related to the issue, you have to know your issue and choose the relevant therapy. Let’s explore some popular massage therapies and decide which one is best for you.
1. Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is the starter pack for anyone looking for the best massage to cure pain and relieve stress. That is why professionals consider it ideal for the ones who are new to massage therapy, have a lot of tension, and are sensitive to touch. Most importantly, it helps in releasing muscle knots, and it’s a great choice for those who want a fully relaxed body at the end of the hectic weekend. The therapist uses a combination of kneading, flowing strokes in the direction of the heart, vibration, tapping, deep, circular motions, and passive joint movement techniques. You have to get undressed while keeping your underwear on.
2. Sports Massage
Athletes often get injuries while playing, and massage therapy helps in relieving the pain. For more serious injuries such as a dislocated bone, you need to consult a therapist to move the dislocated or injured body part to its original position. Besides, some athletes consider massage therapy for increased flexibility to perform better in their sport. However, you can consider it for specific muscles as well in avoiding long-term pain. Good news, if you are bashful, you don’t have to be naked in this case. However, the massage may last 60 to 90 minutes.
3. Deep Tissue Massage
If you’re having a lot of muscle tension or chronic pain, deep tissue massage can be the ideal choice. It helps to relieve chronic muscle problems, such as imbalance, injury, and soreness. Also, the massage benefits in relieving anxiety and tight muscle pain. The therapist uses fingers while pushing them deep into the body muscles and tissues to relieve the pain. It may take longer, up to 90 minutes per session.
4. Trigger Point Massage
As the name indicates, this massage is specific for any particular body muscle. Again, the purpose is the same to relieve pain. When pain is caused due to the tightness of muscles, trigger point massage is the best cure among different types of massage therapies. It cures by combining strong, deeper pressure with broad, flowing strokes. The massage can be for the entire body as well, and you can either choose to be fully undressed or half-naked.
5. Hot Stone Massage
This type of massage therapy is the same as Swedish massage, and the purpose is the same as well. However, the method is instead slightly different, and heated stones in addition to their hands are used to relieve pain. The massage helps to ease muscle tension, alleviate pain, relieve stress, promote relaxation, and improve blood flow. The session lasts for at least 90 minutes, and you have to be naked while keeping the sheet on is optional.
6. Aromatherapy Massage
Aromatherapy is all about your emotions and feelings and bringing you joy while removing all the negative feelings you have bottled up inside. So, this therapy heals emotions to boost your mood, reduce stress and anxiety, relieve muscle tension and pain, and reduce depression symptoms. The process involves a combination of soft, gentle pressure with the use of essential oils. You have to be naked as you have to let the oils be absorbed by your body’s skin. The most important body parts under this therapy include the back, shoulders, and head.
How to Get the Best Massage at Home? The Best Massage Gun on Amazon
Massage therapy at professional centers may cost a lot of money. Since the process is long-term and you have to visit often, the costs can add up. That’s why experts recommend giving massage therapy to yourself at home. It does require a professional for the best massage, but a device instead can replace the therapist. Let’s see what this device can do for you in curing health problems.
TheraGun Elite Deep Tissue Muscle Treatment Massage Gun
When looking for a device that provides you with the best therapy at home, we find TheraGun Elite Deep Tissue Muscle Treatment Gun beneficial and budget-friendly. It features a brushless motor and advanced sound insulation to deliver powerful deep muscle treatment a lot quieter than many massage devices. The battery lasts longer than a typical massage device battery and gets fully charged in two hours only.
Furthermore, you can customize the speed to set as per the therapist’s recommendation. Its ergonomic design provides a way to comfortably hold the device without strain on your hands and arms. Most importantly, the device comes with an application that you can connect through Bluetooth to run customized wellness routines based on your preferences and behaviors. Consider it the best device to give a perfect massage at home while saving a lot of money by avoiding the expensive therapy centers.
Final Thought
Massage therapy provides tons of benefits, but it does cost a lot of money. In that case, the best alternative to the expensive therapists is a massage therapy gun that provides the same professional massage at home. Consider it when you can’t afford the expensive weekly sessions.
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