Massage therapy has been used for centuries to reduce stress, improve relaxation, and reduce muscle pain and tension. A recent Australian study found that a 10-minute muscle massage after a workout could reduce pain by 30%. Another review study on massage found that levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, fell 31% after a massage, while levels of feel-good hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin, increased by approximately 30%.Massage therapy relaxes muscle tissue, reducing painful contractions and spasms. It can also reduce nerve compression by allowing muscles to relax and no longer compress the nerves around them.
This allows the nerves to get the right nutrients and work more efficiently, improving muscle and organ function. Massage can be a useful adjunct to conventional medical care for back pain, neck pain, knee or hip pain, headaches, or other complaints related to muscles, joints, and connective tissue. Research has linked massage to real physical and psychological benefits. Studies have shown that massage can improve immune system function in people with breast cancer and leukemia, in addition to reducing physical and emotional pain. There are many different massage techniques available on the market, such as Swedish massage, shiatsu, Thai massage, deep tissue and reflexology. Adaptive manual therapy is a technique that combines myofascial release, acupuncture, cupping, sports massage and IASTM in individualized one-to-one treatment.
A study published in Pain Medicine by researchers at the University of Kentucky and Indiana University suggests that massage may help people with low back pain. Swedish massage involves long, sliding movements and the kneading of the main muscle groups, as well as friction, gentle rhythmic slaps and vibrations. Deep tissue massage is more suitable for people who perform very physical activities or have an injury or chronic pain. It is important to note that there is no version of sugar pill massage that can be compared to a “real” massage to discover the non-placebo effects of the treatment.
