Many of us are now eagerly engaged in getting our gardens planted, our yards mowed, and our flower beds cleaned up from our long and very wet winter. We may also be experiencing new aches and pains from muscles and joints that haven’t been utilized in quite this way for many months. This is a good time to consider massage therapy to keep you going and to keep your muscles, bones, and connective tissue in good working condition. Here are some of the many benefits massage therapy provides.
- Relieves stress, pain, pain induced anxiety, and muscle congestion
- Improves range of motion increasing flexibility and muscle tone
- Improves sleep patterns
- Improves metabolic waste removal strengthening immune function
- Improves alertness
- Reduces swelling
- Clears thinking
- Encourages faster healing time
- Relieves tension headaches
- Provides a sense of well-being
- Reduces fatigue
- Supports white blood cell proliferation aiding our immune system
- Reduces depression
- Relives symptoms of nausea and vomiting for the cancer patient
- Enhances body image
Equally important as the season changes is to maintain adequate hydration. Muscles and tissues require lots of fluids as well as good wholesome nutrition to function properly and to avoid spasms and sprains. When we work or exercise hard our muscles build up lactic acid. This is normal but often can become lodged within the tissues when spasms or strains occur. This creates those painful “knots” we often experience that can shorten our range of motion as well.
Massage therapy can release these pockets of lactic acid and return muscles to their optimal best functioning. If left unattended, lactic acid can become more toxic to the body. This causes an inflammatory response by the immune system and the pain cycle advances.
A professional massage therapist will apply the right kinds of techniques to muscles and joints to release tightness, cramping, spasms, and knots. Oftentimes you will only require what I call “regional massage” – working on shoulders, necks, arms, backs, or legs only rather than a whole-body massage. These shorter sessions are just as effective in providing the benefits of massage, feel great, and are affordable.
Keep yourself going great all summer, consider regional or full body massage to be your optimal best, and complete all your summertime tasks with ease and comfort.
