Top 10 Health Benefits of a Massage

Massage therapy has long been used as a way to relieve pain and promote healing, but the benefits of a massage are wider-ranging than this. Many of us turn to massage for sore or stiff muscles, to recover from injuries, or as a relaxing treat. However, massages are beneficial for many more reasons, and should form part of a good self-care routine. Research continues to show the numerous benefits of a massage, from increasing white blood cells, to improved circulation, to reducing stress.
Here’s a brief overview of the top 10 benefits of a massage, along with our recommendations on how to incorporate massages regularly into your healthcare regime.

Top 10 benefits of a massage

•     Pain relief

Pain relief is the obvious benefit of a massage, as massage triggers the release of endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that naturally relieve pain. Chronic back pain, sore and stiff muscles, as well as other painful conditions can all be eased with massage.

•     Reduce depression and anxiety

A massage will increase the level of serotonin in the brain, which helps address depression and anxiety issues.

•     Improved sleep

A massage induces relaxation by reducing tension and anxiety, and increasing serotonin levels. This will help lead to a better night’s sleep.

•     Reduce stress

Stress affects us all in many different ways, but a relaxing massage can be one way to combat its effects. The increased serotonin, reduced tension and decreased heart rate are all ways to reduce stress and promote a better sense of wellbeing.

•     Improves the immune system

The lymphatic system is stimulated by massage, increasing white blood cell counts and removing waste and toxins that have built up. This helps to improve the function of the immune system.

•     Improves circulation

Increased circulation from the massage movements help carry oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to your organs and extremities, improving vitality and energy.

•     Improve exercise performance

Top athletes understand that massages play a key part in helping them remain in peak condition. Not only does a massage decrease muscle stiffness after exercise, it can help prevent injury, reduce swelling, and enhance performance.

•     Injury recovery and rehabilitation

A massage can be an effective supplement to a rehabilitation program, as it encourages more blood to flow to injured areas, thereby bringing additional oxygen and nutrients to the affected tissues and muscles, promoting healing.

•     Improve cardiovascular health

A regular massage can help decrease diastolic and systolic blood pressure, which helps take the strain off your heart and contributes to maintaining a healthy blood pressure. Contracted muscles release during massage, so that the venous blood gets pushed towards the heart and lowers the load on your heart.

•     Ease symptoms of health issues

Painful symptoms of health issues such as headaches, fibromyalgia, and osteoarthritis—amongst others—can be eased with regular massages. Massage has even been shown to help with the effects of dementia, improve balance in older adults, and reduce chemotherapy-related nausea.

Where’s the best place to get a massage?

There are generally two options for a massage: a massage therapist, or massage chairs. Portable massagers are also available, but are less effective and don’t provide all the benefits of a massage from a therapist or massage chair. Portable massagers also only target certain parts of the body, whereas a therapist or wholebody massage chair gives you all the benefits of a massage mentioned earlier.

Professional Massage Therapist

A professional massage therapist will discuss your symptoms and medical history before commencing the massage, so that they can determine the best types of massage for your needs. By using a massage therapist instead of a massage chair, you get a professional, trained in various techniques to tailor a treatment to your symptoms. However, highly-trained massage therapists can be expensive if you need regular massages, which is likely if you want to reap all the benefits of a massage. Add in the cost of getting to and from the appointments and the time it takes to travel there, and this can be an expensive and inconvenient commitment every month.

Massage Chairs

A massage chair gives you the benefits of a massage in the comfort of your own home. Unlike portable massagers, massage chairs are designed to emulate the motions of a massage therapist. Many also now incorporate other features such as heat, vibration, and variable intensity. Accessible and affordable, a massage chair will be able to provide the benefits of a massage at a time and place that is convenient for you. While a massage chair won’t assess your symptoms, they can be part of your healthcare strategy and give you the benefits of a massage on a more frequent basis than going to a massage therapist. Massage chairs offer a good return on your initial investment when comparing the frequency of use from a wholebody massage chair versus the cost of a massage therapist.

Where can I buy a massage chair?

If you opt for a wholebody massage chair instead of a portable massager, it’s important to look for a quality chair that fits your needs. Above all, it’s important that the massage chair is comfortable for you, has enough adjustability to suit, and offers the type of massage that you desire. Titan Chair offers a wide selection of high-quality massage chairs at prices to suit every budget, often well below national retail prices. As well as products you can trust, Titan Chair offers superior customer service when buying or maintaining your wholebody massage chair. Browse Titan Chair’s selection of massage chairs at titanchair.com, or visit their Dallas store and test out which chair fits you best.
Massages offer far more benefits than just pain relief alone. By using a quality massage chair, you can regularly and conveniently incorporate massages into your healthcare regimen to take advantage of all the health benefits of a massage.