Thursday, May 13, 2010

Getting The Most From Massage Therapy Techniques

By Adriana Noton

The specialized use of massage therapy techniques is not new, as humankind has been performing therapeutic massage for centuries. Before medicine was learned in classrooms and hospitals, physical and emotional trauma were often healed through the aggressive use of massage. The therapy techniques we use today are derived from those healing sessions of thousands of years ago.

When you undergo a therapeutic massage session your blood flow increases. Improved circulation leads to better oxygenation of the body, which leads to faster healing and a better state of mind. Together, red and white blood cells are able to move through the body faster and with more effectiveness. Circulation plays a significant role in the body's ability to heal and cope.

Pain can be managed through a number of options. However, if a therapeutic session is held in conjunction with some of the other pain management methods, you are likely to find that you can decrease your state of pain. Injury to your body will often result in a naturally protective stance of the surrounding muscles. While massage can decrease swelling and inflammation, it can also help the surrounding muscles relax. This will give you less pain because the muscles are not holding themselves in chronic tension.

When you use massage therapy to help reduce pain you also tend to increase body awareness. You can learn how to recognize the signs of muscles that are in the early stages of seizing. This helps you change the situation whenever possible to help the muscles relax again. With many injuries it is quite possible to change your posture, which can also take a toll on your musculoskeletal system.

The scientific research has shown that massage therapy techniques can help increase the body's own natural immunity. The improvement in natural body function and self healing can be used with all kinds of conditions. Patients of serious illness tend to have a better quality of life despite the illness because they are calmer, more relaxed, and tend to feel less pain.

There are numerous emotional benefits as well. Anxiety and depression are two of the greatest emotionally based problems in our life today. Anxiety can be alleviated through the process of relaxing your body. When anxiety is high, brain chemicals that tense the muscles, increase awareness, and prepare the body and mind for the flight or fight response kick into high gear. This can help perpetuate the anxiety when it is not in response to immediate danger. Using various techniques, massage therapists can help you access a calm and peaceful state.

There are techniques used on those with depression that can help stimulate positive thoughts. When a session is over, many patients with depression feel relaxed but pleasant. It is possible for a massage therapist to teach you some brief self massage tricks to help you maintain a more positive place in between sessions.

Fortunately, you don't have to be suffering from a specific condition to respond to the massage therapy techniques that are in use today. Rather, anyone can benefit from the practice and reap the health benefits to stay healthy. Our bodies are used in all kinds of unnatural positions and are not always cared for vehemently enough. This is one method of increasing the care you offer even a healthy body. - 15440

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