What Does the Science Say About Massage?

Anyone who’s ever had a massage knows how great it can feel. But what does the science say about how effective it really is?

Tulsa Massage may help reduce pain, increase energy, and boost the immune system. It also decreases the fight-or-flight response and encourages your body to circulate more oxygenated blood.

Stress can cause many physical symptoms, from muscle tightness and pain to headaches and digestive problems. Stress also affects the immune system, which may make you more vulnerable to illness. Massage is a great way to relieve and manage stress. Studies have shown that just 10 minutes of massage can activate the body’s natural system for overcoming stress, which is called the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS). This helps to reduce anxiety and stress levels.

The stroking and friction techniques used in massage help to relax muscles, tendons and ligaments. These actions also increase the blood flow to the area being massaged and help to stretch tissues and aid the dispersal of waste products. The feeling of comfort and relaxation is also a result of the release of feel good hormones like endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine. These hormones help to decrease stress and promote a healthy well-being.

Often the fight-or-flight response is triggered by our mind when we are stressed. This reaction is responsible for the body’s fearful thoughts, causing us to become anxious, upset and nervous. Massage is believed to lower the heart rate and reduce stress, as well as releasing feel good hormones. This allows the brain to stop the fight-or-flight response and lower stress levels.

Aside from physically relieving stress, massage can also relieve emotional stress. Studies have found that massage can help to decrease anxiety and depression. It is believed that the feelings of comfort and happiness created by a massage help to increase the confidence level of patients. This can lead to a more open communication between the patient and their doctor which is beneficial when dealing with psychological issues.

It is nearly impossible to remove all sources of stress from life but regular massage can help you to keep your body and mind healthier in the long run. Add it to your list of ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle and start living a longer, happier and more peaceful life. In addition, it will improve the quality of your sleep, which will boost your energy levels and make you feel better about yourself.

Prevents Colds

The soothing effects of massage are well known and include relieving sinus pressure, headaches and aches and pains. What you might not know is that regular massage can also help prevent colds. A study at Carnegie Mellon University found that massage increases the numbers of natural killer (NK) cells, which are your body’s defense system against bacteria and viruses. Researchers speculate that increased NK cell numbers may explain why people who get regular massages are less likely to catch and suffer from viral infections.

However, while a massage is a great way to relieve the symptoms of a cold and flu, you should never have one while actually sick. Getting a massage while you have an illness, especially one that is contagious, can not only make you feel worse but can also be detrimental to your health and the well-being of your Massage Therapist.

When you are sick, your immune system is working hard to fight off an infection and the extra stress of a massage can cause an overload in the body. As a result, your body may release metabolic waste that is toxic to the system, including acidic by-products from cellular processes, excess fats and even viruses and bacteria. The extra stress on the immune system can lead to further complications such as strep throat and pneumonia.

It’s important to remember that a massage can be very stimulating, which is why it is not recommended to have one during an illness such as a cold or flu. It’s not only disrespectful to your Massage Therapist but it can also make you feel worse and spread the infection to others, as well as slow down the recovery process.

When you are ill, it’s best to wait until you feel better, preferably when your symptoms are gone or at least not as bad. In the case of a cold, most of the time, you will not be contagious after a few days, so it is best to wait until the acute phase is over. In the case of a flu, wait until you are able to eat, drink and breathe normally again, as well as when you can get proper rest without feeling overwhelmed with discomfort.

Relaxes Muscles

A massage stimulates the body’s nerve pathways, sending calming messages to the brain that help to decrease stress. This helps reduce the adrenaline response that causes tense muscles, which can be a common cause of soreness post workout or sports activity.

Tight muscles increase pain and restrict movement. This can lead to muscle imbalance, a lack of flexibility and increased stress. Massage reduces muscle tightness by increasing the temperature of soft tissues, promoting blood flow and breaking down adhesions.

Massage techniques such as petrissage, kneading and rolling use mechanical pressure to pick up and squeeze soft tissue allowing them to relax and decrease their tone. This decrease in tone helps to relieve tension, decrease lactic acid build up and remove waste products. A massage also increases the elasticity of the soft tissue, which allows the muscles to become more flexible and decrease their tightness.

The increased blood flow caused by a massage stimulates the formation of new mitochondria within the cells that power your muscles. These mitochondria generate the energy needed to keep your muscle tissue healthy and prevent damage. This is why a massage can improve your performance and prevent delayed onset muscle soreness.

Maintaining healthy muscle is important for athletes to maintain a high level of fitness. Exercise regimes can be intense and require a high amount of energy from the muscle. If the muscles are not able to recover properly then they will fatigue more easily and be more susceptible to injury. Massage promotes blood flow, which helps supply the muscles with oxygen and nutrients to prevent them from becoming tired and weak.

A massage can stimulate your blood circulation and break down adhesions to promote healing after injury, preventing the accumulation of metabolic wastes in the muscle fibres. These metabolic wastes are known as metabolites and can cause pain and restriction during recovery. Massage can also help with injury prevention by removing metabolic wastes, speeding up the rate of recovery and reducing stiffness in the affected area.

Enjoy the Company of Your Favorite Person

People who love to travel often get massages while they are on vacation. It is a great way to relax and unwind after a long flight or day of sightseeing. Massage can also boost the immune system and help fight off infections. It can even lower blood pressure and relieve anxiety.

When starting a massage business, you will need to invest in marketing. This includes a website, brochures and other marketing materials. You will also want to invest in software and other tools that make it easy for clients to book appointments online and pay. It is important to focus on quality over quantity when creating marketing materials. It is better to produce one well-researched, beautiful and informative piece of content than several pieces that do not meet your high standards.

Having positive client reviews and testimonials on your website will help you attract new customers. This is because potential clients will be able to see that others have had positive experiences with your services, which will reduce their perceived risk of trying you out for the first time. Try to encourage your existing clients to write reviews and testimonials for you. This can be done by using software such as ClinicSense Google Review Booster, which will automatically send out review requests to your clients after their appointment has been completed.

Another way to promote your massage business is to network locally. Many massage therapists get their new clients through word of mouth or referrals from existing clients. Try to join networking groups that cater to your target market. For example, if you want to market yourself to athletes, consider joining a local running group or competing in local sporting events. This will allow you to meet potential customers and build rapport with them.

It is important to create a warm and inviting atmosphere in your massage studio. This will make your clients feel comfortable and welcome. It is also important to be punctual and professional at all times.