Health Benefits of Massage

Physical Benefits of Therapeutic Massage

• Treats musculoskeletal problems
• Rehabilitation post operative
• Rehabilitation after injury

Mental Benefits of Massage Therapy

• Fosters peace of mind
• Promotes a relaxed state of mental alertness
• Helps relieve mental stress
• Improves ability to monitor stress signals and respond appropriately
• Enhances capacity for calm thinking and creativity
• Emotional Benefits
• Satisfies needs for caring nurturing touch
• Fosters a feeling of well-being
• Reduces levels of anxiety
• Creates body awareness
• Increases awareness of mind-body connection

Who can Benefit from Massage Treatments.

If you suffer from any of the following disorders, you may benefit by clinical massage:

• Any chronic muscle or joint pain.
• A known condition of referred pain, such as "when my neck gets tense I get a headache."
• Any recurring symptoms that seem to accompany or are precipitated by muscle lightness.
• Tight muscles that are limiting the mobility of a joint.
• Chronically fatigued muscles.
• Low energy level, especially when accompanied by muscle aches and pains.
• A recent muscle injury that generates pain or dysfunction in areas not seemingly involved in the injury
• Any visceral dysfunction that tests negative for conventional causes.
• Muscle pain that recurs in an area with no apparent new cause.
• A tendency for pain to spread to other muscles whenever a simple strain or injury occurs

People find that therapeutic massage can help with a wide range of medical conditions, including:

• Allergies
• Anxiety
• Arthritis (both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
• Asthma and bronchitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Chronic and acute pain
• Circulatory problems
• Depression
• Digestive disorders, including spastic colon, constipation and diarrhea
• Headache, especially when due to muscle tension
• Gastrointestinal disorders (including spastic colon, colic and constipation)
• Headache
• Immune function disorders
• Insomnia
• Myofascial pain (a condition of the tissue connecting the muscles)
• Premature infants
• Reduced range of motion
• Sinusitis
• Sports injuries (including pulled or strained muscles and sprained ligaments)
• Stress
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction

Massage for Pain Control

• Massage confuses the body's pain signals. 
• Massage also calls up the body's natural painkillers.
• Massage provides deep relaxation 
• Massage relieves mental stress and anxiety.

Safety - Precautions/ Contra-Indications

Certain medical conditions require the exercise of caution concerning the advisability of giving or receiving massage.

• Seek medical advice before having a massage if you suffer from phlebitis, thrombosis, varicose veins, severe acute back pain, or fever.
• Swellings, fractures, skin infections, or bruises should not be massaged. Lumps and swellings should be checked by your doctor.
• Massage of the abdomen, legs, and feet should not be given during the first three months of pregnancy.
• Cancer patients are best treated by specially trained practitioners who know which areas to avoid and which kind of massage is appropriate.

If you are in any doubt, or if you or your partner are under medical supervision, check with your doctor or other qualified medical practitioner before embarking on massage therapy. This advice applies particularly in the case of cardiovascular conditions and heart disease, especially in cases of thrombosis, phlebitis and oedema.