The Many Benefits of Massage Therapy

When many people think about massages, the first thing that typically pops into their head is going to a spa for a relaxing massage or doing a special spa day with friends. Sure, there’s definitely a lot of relaxation and pampering that takes place during a massage, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be a one-off or a special occasion.

Regular massages can be part of an overall health and wellness strategy to stay refreshed and ready to take on all of the responsibilities you juggle in your daily life. In this blog, Kimi Hunt, LMT, of Chiropractic Health Care Center Of Glendora explains what’s involved in massage therapy and some of its many benefits.

Massage therapy explained

At this point you may be wondering what the difference is between a spa massage and massage therapy? Both massage types involve applying different amounts of pressure to soft tissues, but that’s where the similarities end. It’s like saying a Ford Fiesta and a Porsche Spyder are the same because they’re both cars.

While most spa massages are basically designed to give you a relaxing experience, massage therapy does that and more. Massage therapy is a therapeutic treatment that taps into the power of soft tissue manipulation.

Massage therapists are specially trained to manipulate connective tissues, muscles, skin, and ligaments to help improve overall health and wellness. Massage therapy can provide a wide array of benefits, such as pain relief, a reduction in depression symptoms, and even a reduction in cancer symptoms. 

In a nutshell, both a spa massage and massage therapy will leave you feeling great and relaxed, but massage therapy is more of a medical treatment with longer-term benefits. In fact, according to a recent study, 88% of individuals say massage therapy has helped their overall health and wellness.

Relieves stress and enhances mood

Massage therapy can do wonders as a stress reliever and mood enhancer. That’s great news for the 40 million American adults who suffer from anxiety. 

Considering the fact that many anxiety sufferers also experience depression, massage therapy can help tackle these debilitating mental health issues in a more holistic, natural way.

And, as if that weren’t enough, as massage therapy relieves stress in your body, it can also boost your immune system.

Helps manage pain

Massage therapy can also be used as an effective treatment for the 50 million Americans who suffer from chronic pain. If you battle chronic pain, you know that finding relief can be frustrating and challenging. However, massage therapy can safely and effectively relieve chronic pain.

Works well with chiropractic care  

Massage therapy also complements corrective chiropractic care. This is because both massage therapy and the chiropractic care we perform take into account imbalances in the body.

With corrective chiropractic care, our goal is to restore optimal body functionality by restoring spinal alignment. Similarly, massage therapy focuses on restoring balance in other parts of the body. Used together in an integrative treatment plan, corrective chiropractic care and massage therapy can help our patients heal and reset.

If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of massage therapy, book an appointment over the phone with Chiropractic Health Care Center Of Glendora today. We’re committed to enhancing our patients’ lives by providing high quality chiropractic, aesthetic, and wellness services.