The 4 Benefits of Regular Massage

June 1, 2018

All too often we hear from folks that they feel living with pain is just a part of life. They feel that the twitch in their lower back, or the knot in their shoulder, or even the pain from an old injury is just something they have to deal with from here on out.

If this sounds familiar, then we have some good news for you! Most of these common aches and pains can be eliminated through consistent massage therapy. In today’s article, we’ll touch on a few ways your body will benefit from regular massage.

Before we dive in, let’s take a look at some interesting facts about daily pain in Americans lives. One AMTA article states:

  • More than one-quarter of Americans (26%) age 20 years and over – or an estimated 76.5 million Americans – report that they have had a problem with pain of some sort that persisted for more than 24 hours in duration. [NOTE: this number does not account for acute pain].
  • Adults age 45-64 years were the most likely to report pain lasting more than 24 hours (30%). Twenty-five percent (25%) of young adults age 20-44 reported pain, and adults age 65 and over were the least likely to report pain (21%)

Most of us living in the York area can relate to these stats, but we don’t have to “just deal with them.” By incorporating massage therapy into your regular routine you’ll enjoy:

Increased range of motion

  • Our day to day lives put a lot of tension on our muscles. As more and more tension is placed on our muscles, they tighten up and become more rigid. Even if you sit at a desk for 8+ hours a day your muscles are developing tension. Massage therapy helps to loosen up those tight muscles and helps to restore them to their natural elasticity; and as a result, you’ll experience a greater range of motion.

Pain Management

  • Pain is one of those words that has a different meaning to everyone. What is mildly uncomfortable to one person may be extremely painful to another. Whatever your current pain level is, massage therapy can be the key reducing it. Many times we have clients say “I need my lower back worked on because it hurts,” but what could really b  causing the issue is a muscle higher in their back pulling on the lower back muscle. Massage therapy offers a “pill-free” route to pain management by addressing all the muscles in the body to ensure they are working in harmony.    

Reduces Stress

  • Physical tension can lead to mental tension, and vice versa.  Regular massage helps to keep your muscles in their naturally relaxed positions and trains your body to know what “relaxed” feels like. If all your body knows is stress & tension, then that’s the only way it will know how to respond to the rigors of day-to-day life. On the flip side of that, as you you incorporate massage into your regular routine, you begin to train your body on what true relaxation feels like. Thus giving another option when it come time to deal with stressful situations. Remember, positivity is a choice!

    WebMD has a interesting article here about stress symptoms on the body >

Increased Recovery Time

  • Without boring you too much on the science behind it, massage can help promote faster recovery by introducing fresh blood to affected areas and breaking up tissue or adhesions. This allows the body to do what it does best, but at a faster rate. Whether you’re recovering from a surgery or you rolled your ankle at practice; a massage therapy regimen may be just what you need to aid your recovery process.

    We’re also big fans of good food that helps reduce inflammation from injuries, check out this simple cold salad for a healthy meal that will help bring down the swelling.

Massage is no longer just a luxury item that people treat themselves to every now and again.  Now more than ever, the science is available to support the idea that a regular massage routine is essential to long term health & well-being through prevention. 

At Restorative Bodywork we take great pride in helping residents of York County and the surrounding find their balance and eliminate the aches and pains of day-to-day life. If your ready to book your next session simply click below, or if you have a few questions you can reach out to us by clicking here. 

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