Massage Therapy

Beyond general relaxation, massage therapy offers a host of medical and mental health benefits. One reason massage therapy is believed to be so beneficial is the therapist's personal, hands-on approach to healing. Another is the therapist's holistic focus on restoring overall health in addition to relieving specific areas of pain. Massage therapy has been shown to lower blood pressure, improve circulation, and release endorphins, and by doing so to decrease physical tension and increase emotional calm. Commonly massaged areas include the shoulders, scalp, back, arms, legs and feet.

Massage therapy has many advantages over some other treatments, providing immediate results, taking little time, and involving no medication. Not only has massage therapy been shown to relieve acute and chronic pain associated with headaches, back problems, muscle tension and spasms, it has been shown to help patients who have undergone heart surgery, cancer surgery (particularly of the breast) or who are suffering from various chronic disease conditions. It is also known to boost the immune system.

There are varied methods of massage therapy, originating in different parts of the world. Some make use of aromatic oils, moisturizers or exfoliants; some employ heated stones. Whether administered as a 10-minute chair procedure or a lengthy deep-tissue massage, massage therapy can assist in pain relief, mood elevation, increased mobility, and an all-around sense of health and well-being.

Additional Resources

• MedlinePlus
• National Institute of Health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
• U.S. National Library of Medicine
• WebMD

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