Question:

What are the possible uses of massage therapy?

Relief For Jetlag & Other Travel-Related Issues

People who travel frequently, whether it is for business or recreation, are perfect candidates for massage therapy. Spending long stretches of time in a cramped seat on planes, trains and automobiles compress vertebrae, cause stiff and sore muscles, and can increase tension.

The stiff and sore muscles that stem from heavy traveling can in turn be more susceptible to injury if not properly treated. Then, of course, there are the stress factors associated with extensive travel. Just because someone has to travel often for work does not preclude them from a fear of flying. Stress can play a big role in traveling.

Massage therapist training teaches you how to help relieve both the physical and mental strain that heavy travel can place upon someone. A simple case of jet lag can often be remedied by the relaxation and comfort provided through a massage. This is why so many people start their vacations once they step off the plane by getting a nice, relaxing massage first. There is nothing better than a massage to melt away the long hours of travel and start a trip off on the right foot.

Rehabilitation After Surgery

One of the leading reasons why people have difficulty returning to normal physically after surgery is inactivity. Pain, stiffness and fear of aggravating incisions or damaging the area operated on can all cause people to play it safe following surgery.

A massage therapy program can help address these issues and return a patient to a normal and active lifestyle as quickly as possible. These treatments exercise the muscles in the surrounding area affected by the surgery, allowing the patient to steadily regain strength and range of motion while reducing risk of re-injury.

Athletes often start massage treatments as soon as possible following surgery to return to action quickly. The benefits of massage therapy in this area are proven. By increasing blood flow and re-energizing muscles, a patient can recover from surgery much faster than is possible without the treatment.

This is why massage therapists are being employed more and more at hospitals, sports and accident rehabilitation facilities, and by professional sports organizations. But it is not just post-operative athletes than can benefit from treatment. Massage therapy is often used to get your average patient back to enjoying everyday life without pain.

Massage Therapy & Autism

Massage therapy can help the mind as much as the body. Many people use these treatments as a way to relieve stress and relax a little bit. But the benefits of massage therapy for the mind go beyond the person who had a rough day at the office and needs to relax. Some massage therapists are even being sought to help treat autistic children.

Some of the symptoms associated with autism are withdrawal, aversion to touch, inattentiveness and anxiety. Many researchers believe that the massage treatment reduces the aversion to touch, a classic symptom of Autism. The rhythm and regularity of touch is credited here. The predictability of the physical contact can help to eliminate anxiety associated with tactile contact. As a result, the children may become more comfortable with physical contact, less anxious and better able to interact with others.

These ideas stem from the results of two studies conducted by the Touch Research Institute (TRI) with massage therapy and autistic children. Both studies saw improvement in the social skills of the children, while the second study included observing sleep patterns. The children receiving massage therapy were not as restless or fitful during sleep as the control group.

Massage therapy is not a cure for disease or disability, but it can be used to treat both the body and the mind for a number of issues. As more is learned, massage therapy schools will be incorporating new techniques and training methods that will open even more doors in the field.

Stress Reduction

Stress can be caused by any number of things. Problems at your job, from career advancement to increasing workloads or financial difficulties, can be extremely stressful. Problems at home can cause just as much strain. Maybe you are having difficulties with a spouse or another family member. Maybe you have noisy neighbors who keep you up at night.

Whatever the source of your stress, it can carry over into other aspects of your life. Difficulties at home can complicate things at work and vice versa. So stress management and reduction is important in making sure that you do not feel overwhelmed, enabling you to better handle the curveballs life can throw in your direction.

Through massage therapist training, you can learn to help both yourself and others avoid that feeling of being overwhelmed. After a long workday it can be beneficial for someone to receive massage therapy so they do not bring the stresses of work home with them. When someone experiences the benefits of massage therapy, they begin to understand the value of regular treatment in avoiding escalating tension in their lives.

Correcting Bad Posture

Bad posture is something that can be developed over time. It can grow from bad habits, as a child or an adult, in a number of settings. Sitting at your desk in school growing up or in front of a computer at work later in life, bad posture can creep up on you before you realize it is there.

In addition to bad posture, non-ergonomic practices can also result in carpal tunnel syndrome and other discomfort in the back and extremities.

The benefits of massage therapy programs for people with bad posture and carpal tunnel syndrome are huge. While someone's posture cannot be fixed over night, treatment programs can resolve this problem over time and eliminate much pain and discomfort in the future.

Massage therapy is being used now, not just for relaxation, but to correct the problems associated with these conditions. In the end, they can lead to better range of motion, stronger muscles in the back and extremities, and prevent early onset of arthritis and other conditions which can make normal everyday movements painful.

Massage Therapy Vs. Aging

As we get older, the human body goes through many changes. The elderly often experience arthritis, high blood pressure and chronic muscle pain to name a few. All of these and more can be treated through massage therapy.

In massage therapy school, you will learn how to reduce pain caused by arthritis in the elbow, neck, knee and other joints. These treatments have also been proven to combat weakened immune systems caused by various forms of cancer and other diseases.

As mentioned before, blood pressure is often a concern as we get older. Heart problems are not uncommon in the elderly, and massage therapy treatments are a way to improve circulation, lowering blood pressure and decreasing the strain placed on the human heart. This is also very effective in the recovery process for people who have suffered a stroke and can help to prevent future episodes.

Through massage therapy training one will ultimately learn ways to keep muscles in better health. Just because you get older it doesn't mean that you have to grow weaker or feel unhealthy. Massages are often used as a way to feel younger and stay healthier for longer than most people realize is possible.

Relief Of Menstrual Cramps

Menstrual cramps can be different for all women. From the location of the discomfort to the length of time and severity, the experience can vary greatly. Many women are turning to massage therapy as a way to deal with menstrual cramps.

Since these cramps typically start in the abdomen and lower back, the benefits of massage therapy make perfect sense in this situation. The lower back is one of the often targeted areas for pain relief when it comes to massage treatments. By relaxing the muscles in the lower back you can greatly reduce discomfort associated with cramping.

Abdominal massage treatments also help to improve circulation in the uterus, relieving pressure and cramps in the abdomen. This can help to curb nausea and diarrhea. Other methods like acupressure and aromatherapy are also sought after by women to relieve menstrual discomfort.

It is also important to note that cramps can spread to the legs and other parts of the back as well, so massage treatments targeting those areas can be very helpful.

Massages After Exercise

Massage therapy is being offered at more and more health clubs and gyms throughout the country, and for good reason. When someone exercises, whether it is by lifting weights, taking aerobics classes or running on a treadmill, their muscles are put through varying amounts of strain.

When muscles feel sore the next day after working out it is because they need to regenerate. Massage therapy can regulate blood flow to those muscle groups, release tension and make it easier to continue with daily exercise.

This allows one to continue to work out regularly while reducing the risk of muscle damage like pulls or sprains from overworking the body. It also means that each workout will be more productive because the body has recovered from the previous day's exercises.

Using massage to improve well being for athletes and people who just want to exercise to feel healthy is becoming more common every day. With professional athletes relying on the benefits of massage therapy, everyday people are recognizing the need to do the same. Since they do not typically have the same physical endurance and ability that professionals have, the need may be even greater on their part to stay healthy.

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