More Than Skin Deep: Benefits Of Massage
Current research is just beginning to prove what our massage clients already know about their massage treatments at Body N Balance. Massage therapy can help ease and prevent common illnesses and ailments that are commonly treated with prescription drugs, surgery, or other hospital treatments. Some of the benefits of massage include the release of endorphins, release muscle tightness, relief of aches and pains, decreased stress and anxiety and the improvement of circulation and flexibility. These effects have been experienced by people who receive treatments and we see these results at our spa located in Wantagh, Long Island.
Hard facts were discovered when researchers from the National Institute of Health conducted a study at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A. In this study, one group of adults were given a deep tissue massage and another group was given a light massage, both lasting 45 minutes. All the subjects had blood drawn directly before, immediately following, and an hour after the treatments. The researchers were surprised to discover that a single session of massage caused biological changes!
The people who received the Swedish massage experienced significant decreases in levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and in arginine vasopressin (hormone that stimulates cortisol production). There was also a significant increase in the number of white blood cells, which are a vital part of the immune system.
The people who received the light massage also had biological changes. They had a greater increase of oxytocin (hormone associated with contentment). They also had a decrease in adrenal corticotropin hormone, which stimulates the release of cortisol.
Massage therapy has long been known to help the body natural heal itself. For people who experience massage on a regular basis or even after just one treatment, they understand the benefits of massage. Scientific study is just beginning to verify what we in the massage therapy field have known all along. And we couldn’t be more grateful!
