Clinical or medical massage is massage received to help alleviate a medical condition such as chronic pain, injury, and mental health. The goal of clinical/medical massage is to improve or make changes to your health or health condition.
The Benefits of Frequent Massage
A Powerful Health Ally
by Massagetherapy.com Love massage, but feel you can't afford one as often as you'd like? Consumers cited cost as one the main reasons they put off booking their next massage, according to a new study released last month. Yet when clearly considered, the price might not be as much as you first think. The effects of bodywork are compounded with more frequent sessions--meaning the more massages you get, the greater the health benefits received overall and during each session. The bottom line: Though this is also a luxurious treat, massage should be viewed as a key investment in your health. There's no denying the power of bodywork. Regardless of the adjectives we assign to it (pampering, rejuvenating, therapeutic) or the reasons we seek it out (a luxurious treat, stress relief, pain management), massage therapy can be a powerful ally in your healthcare regimen. Researchers say the incredible benefits of massage are doubly powerful if taken in regular "doses." Professionals at the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami explain the more massage you get, the greater benefits you reap. Research on Massage "Clinical research is showing that massage therapy has benefits for many serious medical conditions. Massage is increasingly becoming recognized as an important part of health and wellness, it alleviates pain and aids in the healing process, and research is indicating some of what takes place in the body during massage therapy." AMTA Here are some research finding on the benefits of massage: - Wellness and Massage - Massage for All Ages - Massage for Pain Management - Mental Health and Wellness - Low Back Pain and Burn Scars - Cardiovascular Health and Massage - Aging and Massage - Other Clinical Research |
The Health Benefits
Experts estimate that upwards of 90 percent of disease is stress-related. And perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress. Massage offers a drug-free, non-invasive, and humanistic approach based on the body's natural ability to heal itself. While eliminating anxiety and pressure altogether in this fast paced world may be idealistic, massage can, without a doubt, help manage stress. This translates into: - Decreased anxiety - Enhanced sleep quality - Greater energy - Improved concentration - Increased circulation - Reduced fatigue - Reduces arthritis pain - Stimulates the flow of lymph-the body's natural defense system - Relaxes and softens injured and overused muscles - Reduces spasms and cramping - Increases joint flexibility and range-of-motion - Reduces recovery time - Releases endorphins - Reduces post-surgery adhesion - Relieves pain for migraine sufferers and decreases the need for medication - Assists with shorter labor for expectant mothers, as well as reduces the need for medication, eases postpartum depression and anxiety, and contributes to a shorter hospital stay. Furthermore, clients often report a sense of perspective and clarity after receiving a massage. The emotional balance bodywork provides can often be just as vital and valuable as the more tangible physical benefits. Help Yourself to Health Here's the beauty of bodywork: Its benefits are compounded when massage is utilized as a frequent therapy. The more you get, the more it does. Taking part in this form of regularly-scheduled self-care plays a huge part in how healthy you'll be and how youthful you'll remain with each passing year. Budgeting time and money for bodywork at consistent intervals is truly an investment in your health. And remember: just because massage feels like a pampering treat doesn't mean it is any less therapeutic. Consider massage appointments a necessary piece of your health and wellness plan, and work with your practitioner to establish a treatment schedule that best meets your needs. Want to learn more about massage and its benefits? Subscribe to AMTA's e-touch newsletter and visit massagetherapy.com |