Discover the Surprising Benefits of Regular Massage Therapy — You Won’t Believe How It Can Transform Your Wellness Routine

Feeling stressed?

Struggling to perform simple movements like lifting your shoulder or bending down?

Need a little help to sleep better?

Massage therapy may be the solution you’re looking for.

In the best hands, you may find relief from various issues and conditions through tailored massage therapy. The best massage therapists can help you improve your physical and mental wellbeing with a series of bespoke treatments.

But what is massage therapy?

The specifics of treatment can vary from session to session depending on the issues targeted. Generally, though, a massage therapist rubs and applies pressure to soft tissues in multiple areas. They use a range of manual techniques to carefully loosen up:

• Fascia
• Muscles
• Tendons
• Connective tissue
• Joints
• Ligaments

If you have considered massage therapy but have no idea if it’s right for you, the prospect of undergoing hands-on treatment for the first time can be daunting.

However, massage therapy offers a wide range of benefits and can fit snugly into any wellness routine — even if you don’t have a specific goal in mind.

In this article, we’ll explore the surprising benefits of massage therapy, how it can complement other self-care practices, and more. 

The Surprising Benefits of Regular Massage Therapy

Reduction of Stress and Anxiety

Do you struggle with stress often?

If so, you’re not alone. A report found that 46% of Canadians feel more sensitive to stress since the pandemic. And 45% believe that the Covid-19 crisis has had a negative effect on their mental health in general.

You can try various treatments to reduce your stress levels, including massage therapy. During a massage, a therapist can help:

• Relieve uncomfortable muscle tension caused by stress
• Reduce your blood pressure
• Lower cortisol levels and encourage relaxation

Research shows that even just 10 minutes of massage therapy can leave patients feeling less stressed. Studies have also found that levels of serotonin (an essential hormone for fighting stress and anxiety) can increase by up to 28% after a massage.

By reducing levels of cortisol (the ‘stress hormone’) in the body, therapists can help patients feel more relaxed and increase their sense of wellbeing overall.

Relief of muscle tension and pain

If you experience muscle tension and pain, you know how that can affect your daily activities. But massage therapy can improve both problems by stretching tissues and increasing their elasticity.

Multiple studies have demonstrated how massages can aid muscle tension and pain: soreness ratings dropped significantly in people who received massages compared to those who didn’t.

Muscle fibers in treated areas loosen during massage. That encourages greater flexibility, improves range of motion, and reduces discomfort. As a result, massage therapy can play a key role in recovering from an injury caused by playing sports or lifting heavy objects.

Improved immune function

Massage therapy encourages lymphatic drainage, which helps to maintain healthy tissues and aids the immune system’s fight against infections. It also improves circulation, helping blood to deliver oxygen and essential nutrients to tissues and organs. This can reduce inflammation and promote faster healing.

One Cedars-Sinai study found that massages created “significant changes” in white blood cells and lymphocytes. These support the immune system’s fight against bacteria and viruses. The research indicated that even one massage may achieve a “measurable benefit”.

Better sleep quality

Sleep issues are common in Canada. Government findings highlighted the following problems:

• One in two adults struggle to fall and stay asleep.
• One in five adults don’t feel refreshed after sleeping.
• One in three adults find it difficult to stay awake during the day.

The same research reveals that more than 36% of adults lacking sufficient, restful sleep experience chronic stress. That’s significantly higher than the 23.2% of adults that report facing chronic stress even with adequate sleep.

Clearly, good sleep is crucial. And massage therapy can improve sleep by increasing production of serotonin and melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep cycles. It can also put you in a relaxed state of mind, which is conducive to a good night’s sleep.

How Massage Therapy Can Transform Your Wellness Routine

Incorporating regular massage therapy into your wellness routine can help you:

• Combat stress and anxiety
• Sleep better
• Find relief from pain (e.g. muscular pain from a sports injury, arthritis)
• Enhance circulation to deliver nutrients and oxygen to organs and tissues

Whatever your current wellness routine looks like, massage therapy may help you to feel better physically and mentally. A qualified therapist will tailor your treatment plan to suit your personal needs and monitor your progress.

Massage therapy can also complement other self-care practices, such as exercise. For example, regular massages will help you stay flexible and reduce muscular tension. That’s ideal if you go running, hike, or play sports frequently.

Additionally, massage therapy may help you relax and focus on positive feelings in the present. People practicing mindfulness should find that aspect helpful to their routine.

If you’re considering massage therapy, you can find plenty of insights into how massage therapy has benefited people in different ways online. Reading testimonials may help you understand how regular massages will help you in the long run and help you make an informed decision.

Conclusion

Regular massage therapy offers numerous benefits, including:

• Boosting your immune system
• Aiding restful sleep
• Enhancing muscle flexibility
• Reducing muscular tension and pain
• Improving range of motion
• Promoting better circulation
• Decreasing stress and anxiety

If you experience any one or more of these issues, you may benefit from adding massage therapy to your wellness routine. An expert therapist will identify your needs, perform a thorough assessment, and devise a plan to help you overcome the relevant challenges.

Bloor Yonge Chiropractic offers a variety of massage therapy options:

• Relaxation
• Sports
• Therapeutic
• Lymphatic drainage
• Deep tissue
• Trigger point

Your bespoke treatment plan may also include other therapeutic techniques, including physiotherapy, chiropractic, and acupuncture. Our specialists can also offer advice on dietary changes, weight maintenance, exercise, and nutritional supplements.

Book an appointment online to speak with one of our experts and learn more about our massage therapy services.