Medical Benefits

Therapeutic massage can help with a wide range of specific medical conditions, including:

• Allergies
• Anxiety and stress
• Arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
• Asthma and bronchitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Chronic and temporary pain
• Circulatory problems
• Depression
• Digestive disorders, including spastic colon, constipation and diarrhea
• Headache, especially when due to muscle tension
• Insomnia
• Myofascial pain (a condition of the tissue connecting the muscles)
• Reduced range of motion
• Sinusitis
• Sports injuries, including pulled or strained muscles and sprained ligaments
• Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ)

Although massage therapy does not increase muscle strength, it can stimulate weak, inactive muscles and, thus, partially compensate for the lack of exercise and inactivity resulting from illness or injury. It also can hasten and lead to a more complete recovery from exercise or injury.

Specific physical & mental benefits of massage therapy are as follow:

Physical Benefits of Therapeutic Massage

• Helps relieve stress and aids relaxation
• Helps relieve muscle tension and stiffness
• Fosters faster healing of strained muscles and sprained ligaments; reduces pain and swelling; reduces formation of excessive scar tissue
• Reduces muscle spasms
• Provides greater joint flexibility and range of motion
• Enhances athletic performance
• Promotes deeper and easier breathing
• Improves circulation of blood and movement of lymph fluids
• Reduces blood pressure
• Helps relieve tension-related headaches and
• Effects of eye-strain
• Enhances the health and nourishment of skin
• Improves posture
• Strengthens the immune system

Massage Therapy and Well-Being: Mental Benefits

• Fosters peace of mind
• Promotes a relaxed state of mental alertness
• Helps relieve mental stress
• Improves ability to monitor stress signals and respond appropriately
• Enhances capacity for calm thinking and creativity
• Satisfies needs for caring — nurturing touch
• Fosters a feeling of well-being
• Reduces levels of anxiety
• Increases awareness of mind-body connection

Therapeutic massage may not be recommended in some cases, such as in people with:

• inflammation of the veins (phlebitis)
• infectious diseases
• certain forms of cancer
• some skin conditions
• some cardiac problems
• diabetes
• high-risk pregnancy

If you have one of these or some other diagnosed medical condition, always check with your doctor before seeking a massage.