Stress Management Through Massage

One of the oldest forms of stress relief is enjoying the relaxing art of massage. Massage can do so much for common aches like back pain, fatigue, indigestion and insomnia. Many people understand that massage can energize you, relax you and improve your general outlook. But can massage do more? Can massage also help heal what hurts you?
Some people say a massage releases endorphins that help dull the pain of some symptoms without actually healing your condition. Some will also argue that because massage facilitates circulation, nutrient delivery and waste product removal, it will of course help heal a variety of physical problems. And others will also say that massage helps the body heal itself, but not many will suggest or will go as far as to say that massage does something significant for pain and disease management.
However, there are many theories about the nature of disease and health that are not entirely understood by Western medicine. The truth about the nature of disease is very complicated and its causes may be traced to so many possible reasons. However if you're from suffering from a physical problem like chronic back pain, you are more likely concerned about getting rid of it. And this is where research has proven that massage therapy can relieve a number of symptoms and even promote cures in many cases.
According to published studies, massage therapy clearly reduces various types of stress. For example, children who survived hurricane Andrew benefited from massage in a way that it decreased their levels of depression, anxiety and the stress hormone cortisol. Preschool children who are massaged by their parents show better behavior, fall asleep sooner and have more restful nap periods. In adults, massage combined with music therapy and other relaxation techniques significantly reduce the levels of fatigue, depression, as well as increased energy. Massage has also been demonstrated to lower blood pressure and anxiety levels in adults suffering from hypertension.
One of the more common pain related complaints is back pain in adults. Most back pain is most likely caused by muscle strain and bodily over extending, as well as poor posture and bad movement habits. Often, it's difficult to get a clear diagnosis for back pain. Research study has shown that massage therapy can be very effective in relieving lower back pain. Your therapist can also counsel you on ways to adjust your posture and moving habits.
Another common by-product of stress is fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) which is a painful condition in 11 or more specific tender spots throughout the body. Massage is one of the best treatments for fibromyalgia syndrome. After a series of treatments, sufferers showed decreased pain and anxiety as well as stronger posture. In general, massage can help FMS sufferers by relaxing them any releasing the stress that aggravates this condition, as well as supporting them emotionally because FMS often has a strong emotional factor and is common in cases of physical and psychological abuse.
Sleep deprivation has also become a modern epidemic, a nearly half of us suffer from insomnia or other sleep related disorders. Aside from getting more sleep, regular Swedish massage is excellent for fatigue and getting a massage on a regular basis will eventually bring back your body and your circulation up to speed so it can then become more vigorous.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Stress
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