When you take a massage day at the spa, relaxation is expected, but would you ever think of using massage therapy to treat your chronic pain or anxiety? According to Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 85 percent of nurse practitioners say they recommend patient to try massage therapy as an alternative treatment option. An article in the Journal of Clinical Trials (JCT) claims that massage therapy can be very beneficial in calming anxiety and other hard hitting emotions. One great example of how massage therapy can alleviate chronic pain is seen in a case report from the International Journal of Massage and Bodywork. The experimental results showed that long-term massage therapy, in addition to pre-existing treatment, significantly reduced pain in patients with nerve injury in the feet.
Image Source: Roel Smart
The Alternative Therapies in Health Medicine Journal states that massage reduces the amount of anxiety and pain producing hormones, which helps your body to de-stress and feel better. What this means is that massages actually change the way your brain works. During a massage, less adrenaline is made and your body provides that sought after post-massage feeling of relaxation. This can be especially beneficial for people suffering from chronic anxiety (as mentioned in the JCT article) as well as those experiencing other forms of stress.
Now that you know more a bit more about how massage therapy works, hopefully you will find yourself at a spa more often. Remember, whether you suffer from chronic pain, or are just stressed out from a busy week of work, treating yourself to a massage may be one of the best things you can do for your emotional and physical health.
Feature Image Source: Aroma Massage by Tara Angkor Hotel
