Tag: sports massage

Massage is a common method of soothing aching muscles and relieving stress. However, many don’t realize it has some major health benefits.

Scientists say massage stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which focuses on routine and day-to-day tasks that lead to rest and relaxation. This helps decrease feelings of anxiety and can help with insomnia triggered by conditions such as menopause or congestive heart failure.

While the physical benefits of massage are numerous, stress relief is one of its greatest impacts. Studies have shown that massage decreases levels of cortisol and increases oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone.” Excessive stress can lead to chronic health problems including anxiety, depression, heart disease, sleep disorders, weight gain, and loss of libido. Massage has been shown to decrease stress in both children and adults, as well as reduce the symptoms of many other health conditions.

Research has shown that people who have a regular massage experience a reduction in both the frequency and the severity of their headaches. In addition, massage is a great way to improve your sleep habits. This is due to the fact that it relieves muscle tension, which can cause sleep disturbances. It also has a calming effect on the mind, which makes it easier to fall asleep at night.

You can further increase your relaxation and the effectiveness of your massage by using soothing music and safely lighting candles. This will help create the perfect ambiance for your session, which will help you to detach from all of your concerns and just relax. During your massage, it is important to communicate with your therapist if you are uncomfortable or experiencing any pain. This will allow them to adjust their techniques or address any concerns you may have.

Massage is a natural stress buster, and can be used in conjunction with other treatments to treat specific health concerns. Oftentimes, psychological issues like stress and anxiety can be improved with massage therapy as it helps patients feel cared for and supported by their providers. Consequently, patients are more open to discussing these issues and are less likely to have negative reactions like panic attacks or hyperventilation.

Massage is a great way to reduce your stress levels, and the effects can last for days. It is essential that you try to incorporate massage into your weekly routine, as it can significantly help in managing stress and promoting overall wellness. This includes incorporating it in your workout routine, as massage can help strengthen muscles that can prevent injuries in the future.

It Relieves Pain

If you’ve ever had a bad back or neck ache, or even just a sore foot, you may have instinctively grabbed and massaged the area in order to relieve the pain. This is because it feels good and also helps to break down the cycle of pain.

Massage stimulates the autonomic nervous system and increases blood flow which both encourage an increase in feel good hormones. These include endorphins, serotonin and dopamine which help to reduce the effects of stress, depression and anxiety whilst increasing feelings of relaxation, happiness and motivation.

It’s believed that massage works by reducing nerve compression that often causes pain. In addition to this, it is also thought that massage is able to close the ‘gate’ through which pain signals are sent to the brain. This theory explains how massage can be effective for many different kinds of pain, and is why many people find relief from pain caused by muscle cramps, spasms and strains.

In addition to this, the increased blood flow that occurs as a result of a massage helps to remove toxins from the body, which can be helpful for people with chronic pain conditions such as arthritis and fibromyalgia. It can also aid in reducing inflammation, which is another common cause of pain.

The feeling of well being that comes with massage is thought to be partly a result of the decrease in cortisol levels and the increase in oxytocin, known as the “love hormone.” Oxytocin has been shown to help those dealing with issues like autism, social anxiety, schizophrenia, and post traumatic stress disorder. This is because it makes patients more open to counseling and communication.

Massage has also been found to boost immune function, which is beneficial for those who have a chronic pain condition such as arthritis or fibromyalgia. This is because it can help to reduce the inflammatory response and promote a healthier immune system. For this reason, massage can be a great alternative to prescription painkillers, which are often associated with high risk of abuse and addiction as well as numerous side effects.

It Promotes Relaxation

Many of us feel a sense of relaxation and calm after getting a massage. This is due to the release of the hormones endorphins and oxytocin that reduce stress and pain and make you feel good. These chemicals also help to promote the healing process and reduce inflammation. They can even boost the immune system.

Massage stimulates the flow of blood, which increases oxygen and nutrients to the tissues, helping your body to fight disease and stay healthy. In addition, massage increases the lymphatic system, which helps your body eliminate toxins and wastes. This is why massage can be beneficial to people with chronic illness.

The physical and emotional benefits of massage can have long-lasting effects. For example, studies have shown that massage can improve sleep quality, especially for those suffering from insomnia. It can also alleviate joint pain and chronic fatigue, which are common issues for postmenopausal women. In addition, massage can relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression. In some cases, mental health professionals recommend massage therapy as an adjunct to other forms of treatment for depression and anxiety.

Anxiety and depression are often caused by a disconnect between the mind and the body. Many people experience this feeling of disconnection when dealing with traumatic events. A massage can bridge this gap and help to heal the body from the inside out. It can also increase the effectiveness of EMDR therapy, which is used to treat trauma and other mental health issues.

While the physical benefits of massage are significant, it is important to remember that massage can be uncomfortable at times, particularly in areas with muscle tightness or injury. It is therefore important to communicate with your therapist about your comfort level and what techniques are best for you.

It is also important to give yourself some time to relax after a massage. While it may be tempting to jump back into your work schedule or play sports right away, this will actually counteract the positive effects of the massage. Try to take a little time for yourself after your massage and enjoy a nice hot shower, relaxing bath or even just lying down on the sofa or bed.

It Increases Endorphins

Massage is known to increase the body’s natural production of endorphins, which are the brain chemicals that produce feelings of euphoria and well-being. These feel-good hormones inhibit pain signals from the brain and block out negative emotions, such as stress and sadness. Exercise, laughter, and certain foods can also trigger the release of these feel-good hormones.

During massage, your therapist’s touch activates pressure receptors in the skin and soft tissues. When these receptors receive the signals from the therapist they prompt the body to release endorphins, which help reduce pain and promote feelings of euphoria. This is why many people report a feeling of euphoria following a great workout or after spending time with a loved one.

In addition to the aforementioned effects, massage increases blood flow and lymphatic circulation to the areas of the body that are being worked on. This improves the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles while eliminating waste products and toxins. This also helps reduce muscle soreness by facilitating the occurrence of muscle cell repair.

Another way massage improves muscle recovery is by stimulating the growth of mitochondria within the muscles. This is important because mitochondria are responsible for the cellular energy produced by the cells of your muscles. Mitochondria can be depleted by high levels of stress, aging, and illness, and can lead to decreased energy and chronic fatigue. Massage helps to stimulate the growth of mitochondria, which can make a big difference in your overall energy level.

Massage has also been shown to decrease cortisol, which is a stress hormone. High levels of cortisol can negatively affect the body, causing a host of problems, such as lack of sleep, unnecessary inflammation, and low immunity. Massage has been proven to reduce cortisol, which can then enhance your immune system and provide a host of health benefits.

After a tough workout, it’s important to take some time for yourself and relax. Flow State Massage is an excellent option – it can energize muscles and improve overall recovery.

Studies show that massage lowers cortisol and increases oxytocin, which is a feel-good hormone. It also enhances the parasympathetic nervous system response that slows heart rate and blood pressure and decreases inflammatory responses.

Poor circulation can have a wide range of detrimental effects, including memory problems, pain in the arms and legs, fatigue, digestive issues, and even blood clots. Massage increases the flow of blood and lymph through your body, thereby helping your organs and tissues get the oxygen and nutrients they need to work properly.

A massage consists of pressure being applied to the body’s muscles and joints. This pressure stimulates the blood vessels and the nerves that control them, and it also causes the muscles to relax. The relaxation part of the process helps to relieve tension, which in turn reduces circulation issues.

The muscle relaxation also triggers the release of the hormone endorphins, which help to diminish pain signals from the brain. The exact endorphin release varies from person to person, however. This means that while some people might experience a very powerful effect, others may feel only a mild or minimal impact.

Another way that massage can increase circulation is through the stimulation of the lymphatic system, which carries metabolic waste away from the muscles and into the glands where it’s filtered out of the body. The kneading motions of massage, especially those used in Swedish technique, have been known to stimulate the lymph flow.

Finally, massage can increase your blood’s circulation by causing vasodilation, which is the expansion of your body’s blood vessels. This allows your blood to circulate better and flushes toxins out of the body.

There’s a lot of research out there on whether or not massage really does improve your circulation. The truth is that it depends on the type of massage and your individual body. The best way to know if a particular massage will benefit you is to try it out and see for yourself.

As a general rule, light or medium-pressure massage techniques that move toward the heart are good for increasing your circulation. Vigorous tapotement movements like cupping, hacking, beating and pounding are stimulating, however, and they might not have the same benefits for circulation as more gentle or soothing techniques. Trigger point massage, which involves squeezing and releasing tight or knotted muscles, might also have an effect on circulation, but there isn’t a lot of research to back this up.

Reduced Stress

Stress is a natural response to any perceived threat, but the way we deal with it can be detrimental to our health. In addition to causing muscle tension and increasing the risk of injury, chronically high levels of stress can lead to depression, anxiety, heart disease and weight gain. Massage helps to reduce this stress by lowering the heart rate, relaxing the muscles and releasing feel good hormones.

A study conducted by researchers found that massage decreases the level of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. The study also shows that massage increases the level of serotonin, the “happy hormone,” and improves mood and emotional stability. Another way that massage can lower stress is by stimulating the lymphatic system to remove metabolic wastes, which can build up in the tissues and cause swelling, muscular fatigue and a restriction of movement. Massage increases the elasticity of tissues, which allows the muscles to move more freely and prevents the formation of scar tissue in damaged areas.

Studies have shown that when a person is stressed, it can tighten the muscles of their back and neck, which can lead to poor posture and discomfort. When the muscles of these areas are relaxed, they can return to their normal posture, reducing tension and stress levels. Massage can also increase a sense of well being and enhance sleep quality, both of which are important for decreasing stress and improving mood.

In addition to calming the nerves, massage can help to relieve pain by triggering the release of feel good hormones and blocking pain signals from reaching the brain. Adding aromatherapy to a massage session can also encourage the body’s production of these hormones by using different scents that stimulate the sense of smell.

A therapeutic massage can also increase feelings of connection and affection, which are associated with the feeling of being loved. This can reduce a person’s sense of isolation, which is one of the major causes of stress. While it might seem like an indulgence, adding therapeutic massage to your routine can actually help you live a longer and happier life by lowering the level of stress and anxiety that can damage your body, mind and mood.

Increased Flexibility

Whether you want to improve your flexibility for a specific sport, or simply for the comfort of moving more freely, massage can help. Many people find that the increased blood flow during a deep tissue massage, along with the friction applied to the muscles, helps to elongate the muscle and soft tissues. Any style of massage that involves myofascial release or breaking down adhesions in the soft tissue can be useful for increasing flexibility.

The elasticity of the muscles and connective tissues is also improved with massage by the warming up of the muscle. This increases the pliability of the muscle and can make it easier to stretch. The friction and vibration of massage can also break down adhesions that can form in the muscle and restrict movement and range of motion.

A number of studies have shown that incorporating massage into an athlete’s routine can reduce the negative acute effects of static stretching on performance. A study compared the SS protocol (static stretching alone) with the SSM (static stretching followed by massage) and found that although static stretching decreases jumping performance, massage alleviates this effect.

The researchers of this study believe that this is due to the increase in temperature and elasticity of the muscles that occur during massage. This allows the muscle fibers to move more freely and decreases the likelihood of injury. Massage also stimulates the release of endorphins in the body which act as natural pain killers, further decreasing the chances of injury and allowing the muscles to move more easily.

Other research suggests that massage can help to lower the levels of lactic acid in the blood which can cause pain during and after exercise. Studies of the effect of massage on lactic acid in athletes have found that after a short-term (20 minute) massage, lactic acid was significantly lower than in a control group without massaging.

It’s important to plan ahead for a massage session. Obviously it’s not a good idea to book one before an important presentation, children’s party or three-hour drive up the M6 to visit your ex-husband – but if you can do it, then you should! Try to schedule your massage for a time when you can relax and enjoy it. You’ll get much more out of it if you can give yourself time to wind down afterwards, too.

Reduced Pain

Many people find that the pain associated with certain health conditions can be reduced through massage. Whether this be the chronic pain of arthritis or the acute muscle injury a massage can provide relief.

Pain reduction occurs through a number of mechanisms within the body including the activation of the body’s natural painkillers and the increase in the blood flow around the area of the injury. Massage also causes an increase in the release of positive hormones such as endorphins and serotonin which act to reduce stress levels increasing relaxation which can further help with pain management.

A massage increases the blood supply travelling around the body which in turn promotes a better exchange of substances between cells, bringing fresh nutrients into tissues and removing waste products. This helps in decreasing the inflammation caused by an injury allowing the injured tissue to heal quicker.

Another way a massage can decrease pain is by encouraging the circulation of lymph fluid that helps to carry metabolic waste away from the tissues. This is especially useful for those suffering with chronic illness as this waste can build up in the muscles causing pain and stiffness.

Massage has been shown to decrease the levels of cortisol which is a key indicator of stress and therefore can significantly reduce pain levels. A study found that massage can also lower the perceived need for pain medication when used in conjunction with other treatment.

A massage can also increase the temperature of both superficial and deep muscular tissue enabling them to relax more easily. This is achieved through the friction techniques used during a massage which creates an increase in blood flow to the tissue, warming the muscles and the layer of fascia (a tough fibrous connective tissue) surrounding them. The increased temperature also helps to ease the tension in the muscles reducing tightness and easing flexibility. This increased flexibility can also help in reducing the symptoms of some health conditions. Various studies have shown that massage can aid the healing process, improve self-image and increase emotional well being in those with chronic physical disabilities or terminal illnesses. Some of these positive effects can also be seen in individuals receiving massage for non-pain related issues such as anxiety and depression.