Scientific Health Benefits of Massage

ByPenny Q Jones

From muscle aches to serious health issues like high blood pressure and depression, massage treatment offers a number of proven benefits. Get the relief you seek with treatment from a qualified massage therapist.

Everyone knows that getting a massage feels great. But there are actually numerous health reasons why you may want to visit a massage therapist for treatment. Many people argue that the pain-reducing or health-inducing benefits of massage treatment are all psychosomatic; however, recent scientific research has shown otherwise. These studies have covered everything from empirical data illustrating massage's effect on inflammation following exercise to evidence suggesting massage therapy can be effective at reducing blood pressure in prehypertensive women.

Muscle Pain
Muscle relaxation and pain relief are among the reasons that people have long sought massage treatment. However, it's only recently that we've discovered just why massage can help, particularly with exercise-induced muscle aches. As reported by a study from the Buck Institute (in collaboration with McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario) in the February 1 issue of Science Translational Medicine, massage reduces inflammatory cytokines in muscle cells and helps foster the creation of mitochondria (the energy-producing parts of a cell). The study's analysts point out that this reaction is actually quite similar to the way basic anti-inflammatory medications work to relieve pain.

Blood Pressure
Stress-reduction and relaxation are two of the most commonly cited reasons for getting a massage, but this relaxation goes beyond just mental health and into the realm of physical health. Several different studies have shown that massage therapy can reduce blood pressure in both women with prehypertension and hypertension. One Dillard University study presented in 2010 indicated preliminary positive results in lowering blood pressure in hypertensive African American women through therapeutic chair massage intervention. Another study, published in February 2011 by the Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research illustrated lowered diastolic and systolic blood pressure in prehypertensive women following ten 10-15 minute Swedish massage sessions.

Depression
We know that massage can make your body feel better, but it can also provide the same benefits for your mind. Massage therapy has long been used to treat depression, operating under the understanding that human touch is stimulating and healing. However, there is now ample scientific data supporting that opinion. A compilation of studies reviewed by researchers at I-Shou University in Taiwan in 2010 indicates that massage can provide "potentially significant effects" for treating depression. By inducing the body to release oxytocin and through other physiological processes, massage can reduce the symptoms of depression.

So the next time you want to improve your health as well as get some deep-down relaxation, you may want to turn to your local massage therapy center.

As with all complementary health care treatments, make sure you consult with your doctor prior to seeking massage treatment. Be open and honest with your massage therapist regarding any relevant health history, your reasons for seeking treatment, etc. to ensure you receive the safest, most beneficial massage therapy session possible.

Penny Jones is a massage therapy enthusiast and an Internet marketer for Prospect Genius, a leader in online advertising for local businesses.

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