8 Surprising Health Benefits of a Weekly Massage

Suppose you take the time to look for evidence of the health benefits of a weekly massage. You’ll have no difficulty finding numerous studies to support these.

From easing muscle pain after exercise to reducing stress & anxiety, dozens of studies go back 20 or 30 years. They show overwhelming evidence that massage can deliver real physical and psychological benefits.

An Australian study found that a 10-minute massage after a challenging workout could reduce soreness by 30%. Another study found that stress hormone “cortisol” levels dropped by 31% following a massage. Another found that the amounts of feel-good hormones such as “dopamine” and “serotonin” increased by around 30%.

What are the health benefits of a weekly massage?

Reduce anxiety and stress

Massage has been used to reduce stress and anxiety since dawn. There is also strong evidence that they help to reduce the symptoms of depression, too.

Massage advocates report that massage offers all kinds of benefits for your well-being. These include more energy, better sleep, improved concentration, and less fatigue.

Pain relief

Full body massage can also reduce pain & stiffness in the body. Endorphins are released when you get a full body massage as a pain reliever.

Many sufferers of migraines recommend massage to reduce their headache pain. The most common benefits of massage are to treat tired and sore muscles. This can be helpful after a challenging workout or vigorous exercise.

Better circulation

Massage increases circulation by helping oxygen & nutrients to reach body tissues and internal organs. A massage can also help to control your blood pressure, too!

While massage does not replace regular medical care, it can offer many medical benefits. If you have a medical condition, massage can complement your care but should not replace it!

Increased immune function

Regular massage stimulates the lymphatic system, which helps your immune system to protect the body.

Skin Benefits

Many people get massages to help remove dead skin cells for better skin health.

The increased blood flow helps the appearance of the skin and can also promote tissue regeneration. According to massage professionals, This can help with scars and stretch marks.

In a report published by the British Medical Journal, researchers explain that the power of massage is beneficial for people who lack a robust support system.

They said touch is likely therapeutic, particularly in those with limited opportunities for physical contact, such as patients without intimate friends or family.

What are the benefits of facial massage?

We can easily forget about the face and head when it comes to massage. Massage is a great way to alleviate stress, help lymphatic functioning, and keep your face looking healthy and younger.

But how? – Massaging moves toxins out and away so that those beautiful nutrients can replenish our cells. Many of us get facial massages to deal with stress, headaches, and migraines. If you’ve ever experienced a facial massage, you will know that it can be so relaxing that it’s common to fall asleep during it.

It feels so darn good because the face is full of nerves and pleasure centers. Not only does it feel incredible, but it also has many benefits. So if you’re looking for a pick-me-up or a relaxing escape,  take a quick peek at the benefits of a facial massage below;

Elevates your mood

A good face massage will decrease stress and lift you out of your “funk.”

In a 2008 study by the User Science Institute, psychological tests conducted 45 minutes after a facial massage showed apparent improvements in mood and anxiety levels.

Wrinkle prevention

The stress of our daily lives results in a buildup of muscle tension.

As we age, our foreheads furrow, and lines develop between the eyebrows and around the lips. A soft facial massage helps to relax these tight muscles and will (after a few visits) decrease your worry lines.

This kind of massage should be performed with a hydrating moisturizer to reduce wrinkles and keep your skin supple.

Removes congestion

Good therapeutic massage can also help combat allergy symptoms like sinus congestion.

When mucus builds up in the sinus area, it can cause pressure, puffiness, and sometimes headaches. Steam inhalation and a gentle face massage will shift secretions, improve drainage, and relieve congestion.

Warning – If you have a severe and long-term sinus condition, such as an infection, please consult your doctor before attempting any facial massage.

FAQ

What is a sports massage?

Athletes use sports massage to prepare their bodies for peak performance, recovery after sports, or to function better during training sessions. But you don’t have to be a sports star to benefit from it!

Generally, a sports masseur concentrates on a specific problem developed following a sports activity. Sports massages can be divided into four categories; Pre-event, Post-event, Restorative, and Rehabilitative.

A sports massage is usually the best choice for those with a specific problem, such as a pulled hamstring, a frozen shoulder, or a painful knee. The main aim is to alleviate the pain caused by injury and return the body to peak health.

A final word – Do not get a sports massage from anyone other than a specifically trained professional with a wide range of techniques and the knowledge of when and how to use them effectively.

What are the benefits of foot massage?

We all know how pleasurable a foot massage can be, but did you know it can also promote health and well-being?

According to Chinese medical practitioners, most of the sensory nerves of our internal organs are mapped in the feet. In a typical reflexology session, the masseur uses the foot as a detailed body map to treat just about any health ailment.

The system uses massage and pressure on the body’s meridian points that correspond to specific organs and supposedly send energy to them. You can also use foot massage to promote psychological health.

In a study by Brighton University, the patients who received foot massages after coronary artery bypass surgery reported higher levels of calmness and increased feelings of well-being than those who didn’t get foot massages.

Furthermore, a foot massage stimulates foot and leg muscles, improves circulation, reduces stiffness & tension, and can even eliminate pain, according to the Harvard Medical School.

One of the most significant benefits of a weekly massage for your tootsies is that you can do it yourself! Just buy a good quality foot roller, take off your shoes, and roll the foot roller backward and forward for an invigorating massage. Don’t forget to use the rollers on the top of your feet and the soles, though, as this part is essential, too!

How often should you get a massage?

How often to get a massage depends on several things, such as your physical needs, emotional needs, stress levels, and, obviously, your budget. You will undoubtedly get the most health benefits from massage when you get it regularly.

With frequent massage, the benefits include calming the nervous system, improved blood/lymphatic circulation, relief from muscle pain, and help with pain management for conditions including arthritis and sciatica.

A yearly massage may relax but won’t undo a lifetime of muscle tension. A massage once every week is ideal for keeping your muscles in tip-top shape and your stress levels to a minimum.

If you are suffering from chronic pain or have a particular issue to take care of, you might need to get a weekly massage until your symptoms subside. When your physical and emotional health is where you want it to be, a massage once a month may be enough to maintain the health of your body tissue.

If you have suffered from a particular issue for a long time and then you stretch out the time between treatments, your muscles can quickly revert to their old patterns.

Another critical point is that if you wait too long between massages, you may have to start your treatment from scratch to restore suppleness and pliancy. The golden rule is to listen to your body and not to wait too long between massages.

What are the benefits of massage for weight loss?

Massage for weight loss is a bit of a contentious issue, with many health professionals believing that massage can be effective for people who want to lose weight. But note that massage alone doesn’t usually make weight loss happen.

One opinion is that massage can be helpful in any weight loss program. Still, it will never be as important as eating a calorie-controlled diet and getting enough physical exercise. Only after fixing your diet and burning some calories should you seek a licensed massage therapist who can help keep your body strong, flexible, and relaxed.

However, some interesting research has been done on massage and weight loss. There is strong evidence that massage can help people to lose weight. This is done by optimizing the body’s nutrient delivery system and shortening muscle recovery time between workouts.

The argument is based on the fact that massage can help you build and strengthen your muscles more quickly. More muscle will result in increased fat loss because when we are involved in intense workouts, those muscles are not just burning calories for energy but are also burning calories for the whole day (for fuel and to repair micro-tears in the muscles).

Are massage chairs good for you?

The initial cost of a decent massage chair can be pretty steep, but you will save bags of time and money over time!

A typical massage session in the U.S. can cost between $50 and $200 for a 60-minute session. For example, extra fees can be when using specific oils or hot stones. For those who wish to have regular massage sessions, a good quality massage chair will pay for itself in no time!

You can get many benefits from a weekly massage by buying your own massage chair. The effect of a chair massage is not quite as deep as a masseur, but owning one has definite benefits. In our opinion, a massage chair is not a substitute for a qualified masseuse, but if you own one, you can go much longer between human massage sessions!

The main reasons for owning a massage chair are the pure unadulterated pleasure of it, and unless you’re a pro athlete (with a physio on hand), they work out cheaper in the long run.

To summarize, massage chairs are not replacements for proper masseuses, but a good chair works well for those suffering from aches and pains and needing frequent massage therapy.

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