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Benefits of Massage

What are the benefits of massage?

Stress - Massage is one of the best known antidotes for stress. Reducing stress gives you more energy, improves your outlook on life and, in the process, reduces your likelihood of injury and illness. It can relieve symptoms in conditions that are aggravated by anxiety, such as asthma or insomnia.

Pain or tight muscles - Massage relieves most muscle tightness, from a sudden charley horse to habitually clenched jaws or tight neck muscles. It also stimulates the nervous system to instruct muscles to relax even more.

Pain or tingling in arms or legs - Muscles can become so contracted that they press on nerves to the arms, hands and legs. If this happens, a massage to release muscle spasms in the shoulder or hip can bring relief.

Injuries - Massage can treat injuries you develop over time, such as tendonitis, as well as ligament sprains or muscle strains caused by accidents. Massage reduces inflammation by increasing circulation. This brings nutrition to your injured area and removes waste products. Certain massage techniques can limit scar tissue in new injuries, and can reduce, or make more pliable, scar tissue in old injuries.

Pain or restriction in joints - Besides releasing tight muscles that restrict joint movement, massage works directly on your joints to improve circulation, stimulate production of natural lubrication, and relieve pain from conditions such as osteoarthritis.

Posture - Massage releases restrictions in muscles, joints, and the muscles tough connective tissue coverings, freeing your body to return to a more natural posture. Massage can also relieve the contracted muscles and pain caused by abnormal spinal curvatures such as scoliosis.

When you have to stay still - There are many reasons you may be forced to remain still, including injury, sedentary work, surgery, paralysis or simply getting older. When this happens, massage can relieve your aches and pains and improve circulation to your skin and muscles. Even when an immobilized area cannot be massaged directly, relaxation and increased circulation from a general massage can give you relief.

Fluid retention - Massage increases your circulation which, in turn, drains tissues of excess fluid caused by recent injury, menstruation, surgery, or pregnancy.