 Are you the type of person who puts off getting a massage? Do you fall into the trap of thinking that because nothing actually hurts, you don’t need to worry about it? Many people think the same way, but you may end up wishing you had booked ahead of time instead of needing a last-minute appointment to address acute back pain or the flare-up of a chronic injury. Massage can provide relief if you do have an injury or are already in pain, but why wait until there’s something wrong before you take action? Massage can be part of your preventative therapy, a way to stop aches and pains from developing into anything more serious.
Keep On Keeping On... Most of us have to work on a daily basis, and looking after your back and your musculoskeletal system will save you and your employer a lot of stress and money in the future. It’s startling, but did you know that according to the Global Burden of Disease 2010, a staggering thirty-one million Americans say that they are dealing with the symptoms of low back pain at any one time, costing over $50 million dollars in conventional medical treatments, worker’s compensation, and absence from work? Why risk it when a study that was carried out in 2011 proved that having regular massages helped to relieve the pain before it got to the stage where it needed medication or required taking time off from work? Stress-Busting Massage Another cause of time off work is stress and/or anxiety, so you’ll be pleased to hear that a regular massage session can help you beat the build-up of stress and keep you feeling calmer for longer. It’s well known that many conditions are either brought on or made worse by stress. Making time for regular massage therapy helps to lower your body’s cortisol levels and increase the happy hormones serotonin and dopamine. It really puts you in a better mood. On top of this, it’s also thought that because a deep tissue or Swedish massage in particular helps to get your lymph fluid moving, this type of massage can also help boost your immunity. This means less coughs, colds and illnesses, which is all good! Beat the Pain of Inactivity Many of us can’t help it, but the average American sits still for eight or nine hours every single day. If your job means that you have no choice but to sit at a wheel or desk, it will pull your shoulders forward and cause them to become rounded. This has the effect of weakening your upper and lower back muscles, which is why you might be feeling that pain in your shoulders and back. If you are able to get up and about regularly to do some quick stretching or activity, and you pair this with a regular massage, your posture will thank you and you should reduce any pain you feel from sitting still for so long during working hours. Have we convinced you to make a massage part of your regular routine? Of course, it’s not all about preventing illness or relieving pain; receiving a massage is a therapeutic and beneficial therapy in itself, and many people book regular massage therapy sessions just because they know they will climb off the massage table with a smile on their face, feeling amazing! |
