16 Things you Might not Know about Massage Therapy

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There are many types of massage therapy which can utilized. And there might be times in your life where you will want or need a certain type of treatment or approach. You might find that if you have someone who becomes stricken with an illness or disease for example that they will need a certain type of massage therapy.

Intensive care sections in hospitals utilize massage to treat patients. Drug therapy programs often utilize massage therapy. Massage therapy is a great asset to pain control and as such is quite often made use of in clinics that deal with pain. On the other hand does massage therapy cause pain?

1 With the advent of massage therapy into mainstream hospitals and even onto the list off therapies that insurance companies may pay for, qualifying as a massage therapist can be a profitable career choice.

Especially as the patients are likely to come back again and again to experience the relaxing euphoria that a decent massage can provide. A massage therapists fees range from $50 per hour up to some self-employed therapists that command $100 per hour. Plus tips.

Candice, a Registered Massage Therapist working in Ontario has posted some information about RMT salries at her blog, Zen and the Art of Massage. Have a look.

2 Infants and premature babies in particular experience great benefits from regular massage. Touch is very important to a baby and being given the level of attention a baby massage requires means that they also tend to grow up to be more confident and secure. A baby massage should be very light to the touch. Never apply pressure.

3 One of the basic benefits of massage therapy is the increased circulation of blood in any area that is massaged. For example, if you rub an injured area more blood will flow to the area. This also means that massage will improve the recovery time after medical treatment.

4 Massage is an ideal anti-depressant. This is because it increases the level of endorphins. Which is also another reason why husbands should aim to give their wives regular feet and back massages. Endorphins are aphrodisiacs.

Massage can bring about actual chemical changes in the brain which result in feelings of calm, relaxation, and well-being. It also reduces levels of stress hormones like cortisol, adrenalin, and norepinephrine – which in some people trigger depression.

5 Massage is an essential part of a recovery program for sports injured athletes because the improved blood flow, relaxation and other benefits of massage help improve injury recovery times.

6 Massage in combination with for other therapies, instance Reiki, can help to lower blood pressure. The relaxing properties of a good massage has helped more than one person get permission from their doctor to fly.

I have heard stories where people that have previously been turned down by their heart doctor for flights have the same doctor give permission because of the drop in blood pressure after a Reiki massage.

7 A deep tissue massage, which is applied with a lot of pressure around the lymph nodes and the lymphatic channels helps to improve the lymph flow. This is also why pressure should always be applied in the direction of the heart.

Imagine you are moving all the waste to where it can escape, which in massage is thought to be the central region around the heart.

8 Because we apply pressure when we massage the muscles it increases the blood’s circulation. This is something that helps the body bring fresh supplies to the muscles as well as remove toxins. This is what relaxes us and envigorates us at the same time.

9 Massage can help to improve weakened muscles. We are effectively manipulating the muscles into working in a way that is unusual to them and this can strengthen the muscles.

10 Massage helps to relax the muscles, even between sessions. The muscles are warmed up and the increased blood flow helps the body remove lactic acid and other things that make the muscles feel stiff.

This is also why it is very important to start any massage with long, slow stroking motions at pressure so that the blood can begin to flow to the muscles faster.

11 Massage can improve a person’s range of motion as it can release tension and help relax the muscles around the joints. Applying a fingertip massage around a stiff joint for instance can help a great deal

12 Massage is a great way to relieve mental stress and reduce anxiety levels. It is even better if you can get your partner to do it as it helps foster intimacy, but make sure they know what to do first.

13 Something as relaxing as a massage can in fact help to improve the alertness of the mind because it releases endorphins. They in turn help you focus your mind.

14 Giving someone a hand massage is a very simple way to help improve calm thinking and fosters peace of mind. You can do this easily by massaging “up and out” which means you start with the knuckels and move up towards the wrist, and circle “out” and down to the pinky on the way back to the knuckle again, remembering to release as you move “out”. Don’t massage sideways, just “up and out”. Start with the middle knuckle by the way.

15 A massage can help a person feel nurtured via touch. A couple can reconnect again by exchanging back and foot massages. The important thing is to apply even pressure, remembering to use small circular movements and a nice relaxing massage oil like sandalwood.

16 Massage therapy does not normally cause a person to be in pain but there might be soreness for a couple of days. This can be alleviated with time and drinking a lot of water helps.

Drinking water is important because massage releases toxins built up in the body that need to come out. The water will help flush the toxins all the way out of the body.

Last Updated on November 12, 2022