You may already know you should be booking in for regular Myotherapy and Remedial Massage but are you aware of all the benefits it provides? It not only feels great to get a massage for your muscles but also promotes you to be a more productive, energetic, and happier person. In our busy lives, we demand a lot from our bodies. It is easy to sometimes neglect or even take for granted our health and well-being until it's too late. Here are nine benefits of regular Myotherapy and Remedial Massage to get you back on track to feeling good.
1. Correcting Posture
Alignment and postural issues are assessed first to identify imbalances in the body that may be causing dysfunction and pain. Myotherapy and Remedial Massage treatments are individually tailored to the client to relieve pain and restore problem areas. The most common areas are the neck and shoulders often seen in those who sit a lot or use a computer at work. The lower back is also an area prone to pain and tightening from prolonged sitting. Remedial massage can help these problems by lengthening the muscles and balancing out the body for improved postural alignment.
2. Reduce Muscular Pain and Stiffness
Massage therapy techniques and Dry Needling work well together to release and deactivate tight muscular trigger points. These trigger points are associated with stiffness and dull muscular pain which sometimes refers to the site. Specific stretches prescribed to you can lengthen tight muscles and restore them to their original state. Massage helps to introduce new blood flow to tissues which promotes healing and helps to break down any adhesions. Myotherapy and Remedial Massage can eliminate pain and tension headaches naturally at their source instead of using pharmaceutical drugs to mask the underlying issue.
3. Stress Relief
The importance of massage and its effect on stress, anxiety, and feeling of general well-being can not be underestimated. Multiple studies have shown that massage therapy can lower cortisol levels, increase endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin (our happy, feel-good hormones), and lower excitatory nasty stress-inducing hormones like norepinephrine, epinephrine, adrenaline, and cortisol. A study in 2005 by Field demonstrates that massage therapy is shown to reduce cortisol levels by an average of 31%, increase serotonin levels by 28%, and dopamine levels by 21% on average. Similarly, in 2000 Hernandez-Reif explained that diastolic blood pressure and hypertension decreased after massage and that there was less reported anxiety, depression, and hostility, along with reduced cortisol levels in urine and saliva. Reducing both emotional and physical stress is why massage is often recommended in stress and anxiety treatment programs.
4. Increase Joint Range of Movement
As muscles cross over joints in the body any tightness will restrict full joint movement. The tightness can originate from the muscle belly and also its tendon at its attachment. If you have any joint-related dysfunction addressing first the soft tissue will help take pressure off the joint and restore proper function. Once this is achieved the joint is free to move without friction and related inflammation and pain. The shoulder is one joint highly affected by its muscles and tendons. The rotator cuff muscles and bicep tendons are a major cause of chronic shoulder pain and dysfunction.
5. Increase in Productivity
You need to take the time to look after your health, relax and de-stress. Through massage treatments your levels of mental clarity and mental alertness increase. Over time, pain can significantly drain your energy, one of the most common causes of sleep loss and reduced concentration is headaches. In having better control of your mind without the constant nagging signals of chronic pain the time needed to do everyday tasks decreases improving productivity.
6. Aid in Exercise Performance
Whether you are a gym-goer, runner, footy player, or soccer player, or perform Pilates or yoga Myotherapy and remedial massage can help in many areas of exercise performance and longevity. Exercise breaks down your muscle fibers to rebuild strength again. However, overuse or not allowing recovery time can lead to injury which can set your health and fitness goals back a step. Being aware of your body and attending to muscle tightness early is key to injury prevention. If your hamstring is feeling tight during a run or if your forward bends in yoga are a struggle you may need some help.
7. Improve Sleep Quality
Poor quality sleep is a frequently reported problem for a lot of people. This means either getting to sleep or waking often during the night. A combination of stress, pain, muscle aches and cramps, headaches, and anxiety all cause irritability and can have us tossing and turning at night. In addressing pain of the hip shoulder and neck, educating of the best sleeping position and type of pillow can help tremendously. The night after a massage treatment people commonly report having a deep and uninterrupted sleep cycle which they haven't had in a long time.
8. Improve Immunity Function
Study shows that a single session of massage therapy produces measurable biological effects on the immune system. These findings may have implications for managing inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Massage decreases stress hormones which allow your immune system to work more efficiently. In addition to this increased circulation and lymphatic draining can boost your body's ability to heal, keeping you strong and healthy.
9. Prevent Unnecessary Surgery
The first advice given from a GP or neurosurgeon is often surgery. This is usually without the exploration of alternative therapies. Surgery should really be the last option with a lot of injuries, it can cause unpredictable complications and loss of movement due to invasive procedures and scaring. Ensure you get multiple options before opting to have major surgery for your neck, shoulder, lower back, or knees. Myotherapy can help the injury heal naturally and may get to the point of not needing surgery at all.