Tulsa Massage can help your body heal by restoring circulation, breaking down scar tissue, and eliminating waste products. Therapeutic massage can also relieve stress and anxiety.
Massage can decrease your stress hormones and increase serotonin and dopamine levels, neurotransmitters that stabilize mood. But before getting a massage, check with your doctor.
Massage increases the circulation of blood in soft tissues which helps the body to flush waste and toxic materials out of the tissue. In doing so it relieves congestion and knotted fibres which are often the cause of many muscle pains. This increased circulation also helps to increase the supply of oxygen and nutrients to cells which aids in removing toxins from the muscles.
Regular massage can reduce stress levels and encourage a deeper sense of well being. This is partly due to the relaxation response which the body’s parasympathetic nervous system triggers during a massage. During this state, your heart rate and breathing slow down, your cortisol hormones decrease and your brain releases feel good hormones like serotonin and dopamine.
This is a great way to relax before an event and can help to alleviate the anxiety and tension associated with that situation. It can also boost energy levels, improve posture and reduce the risk of injury by loosening the joints and ligaments.
Research shows that massage can stimulate the immune system and enhance the body’s ability to fight infections. This is in part due to the fact that massage can promote the production of white blood cells and the release of anti-inflammatory chemicals. The increased circulation also helps the immune system to better eliminate infection-causing pathogens.
The benefits of massage don’t stop there – it can also increase self esteem in people with physical disabilities or terminal illness and can help those who suffer from depression, anxiety or chronic fatigue syndrome. It can also reduce the symptoms of fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and sprains and strains. It can even help prevent a flare-up of inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. It can also improve sleep and boost immunity by stimulating the production of killer T cells.
Pain Relief
Many people seek massage to alleviate pain caused by a specific event or from chronic pain conditions such as arthritis. Studies show that massage can significantly decrease the intensity and frequency of these pain symptoms as well as improve overall functioning.
One of the ways massage reduces pain is by interfering with the pathway the brain uses to relay pain signals. The nerves that report pain in injured tissue, called nociceptors, have a shared neurological pathway with a large number of other nerves which can be stimulated instead to send strong, distracting messages to the brain that inhibit the nociceptors. Through the manipulation of limbs and joints during massage, the therapist can stimulate these other nerves to overwhelm the pain signal from the nociceptors and temporarily mask it. Massage also encourages the release of the natural painkiller, endorphins.
Another way that massage relieves pain is by promoting adequate blood supply to the affected area. Insufficient blood flow restricts the amount of oxygen that gets to cells that have been damaged and limits their ability to repair themselves and eliminate metabolic waste. The friction created by the skin and fingers during massage increases muscle temperature which in turn promotes the flow of blood to the treatment area. In addition, the mechanical pressure on veins and arteries during massage induces the release of vasodilators (substances that dilate the blood vessels) to further increase circulation.
Lastly, massage can decrease pain by interrupting the cycle of inflammation. When the body senses injury it sends a message to muscles to tighten around the affected area to prevent further damage and restrict movement. When these muscles are tight they limit the range of motion and cause stress. Massage breaks down these knots and releases the tension which causes stress.
Massage can also decrease the level of cortisol, a hormone that is elevated in people who are stressed. Research shows that regular massage can reduce stress by decreasing anxiety, improving sleep and lowering levels of depression.
Boosts Immunity
Research indicates that massage may help the immune system by increasing the number of lymphocytes, white blood cells that protect against disease and foreign invaders. Lymphocytes also play a role in the production of natural killer cells, which are responsible for killing cancerous or virally infected cells and other unwanted cells.
The lymphatic system is critical to immunity because it takes toxins and pathogens from the cells to the lymph nodes, where they are destroyed or removed from the body. Poor lymphatic flow can lower immunity, and massage improves it by stimulating the lymph nodes to drain more effectively.
During a 45-minute massage session, researchers measured the cellular activity of participants’ white blood cells and other markers related to their immune systems. They found that those who had received a Swedish massage had measurable increases in lymphocytes—specifically, natural killer cells and inflammatory cytokines—as well as decreased levels of the hormone arginine vasopressin (AVP) and the stress hormone cortisol.
Another way in which massage boosts immunity is by improving sleep, which is important because a good night’s rest is vital to boosting your immune system. When the body doesn’t get enough rest, it becomes difficult to fight off infections and illnesses. Massage relaxes the muscles and calms the nervous system, which helps to promote a restful sleep pattern.
Aside from helping the immune system function properly, getting regular massages can also prevent illness by reducing stress. Chronically high levels of stress weaken the immune system, causing the body to become more susceptible to viruses and other pathogens. Massage decreases the amount of stress in your life, which is one of the best ways to keep the immune system functioning properly.
With the flu season in full swing, getting a regular massage is a great way to fend off the common cold and coronavirus by lowering your stress levels, ensuring a better quality of sleep, boosting the body’s natural killer cells, and strengthening the lymphatic system. Add it to your wellness routine along with proper nutrition and exercise! And remember to always talk with your massage therapist about any health concerns or questions you have.
Improves Sleep
A good night’s sleep is vital to your health, and many struggle with insomnia or poor quality sleep. Sleep is a complex process that requires a delicate dance between the body and the mind. The causes of this can be varied; from stress, to a diet lacking in nutrients or specific medical conditions.
While there is no one-size-fits-all cure, there are a number of things you can do to improve your sleep. One of those is massage. Massage increases your production of serotonin, which is a precursor to the sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin. Studies have also shown that massage decreases cortisol levels and can help to alleviate the symptoms of certain sleep disorders.
According to the American Massage Therapy Association, massage is a natural way to combat insomnia by helping the brain and body relax. This is because massage reduces tension and pain in the body, which can be a major contributor to insomnia. Massage also stimulates the vagus nerve, which is responsible for slowing down the body and promoting relaxation.
When you receive a therapeutic massage, your body releases endorphins and serotonin, which are neurotransmitters that promote feelings of happiness and contentment. These chemical signals are what the brain uses to tell itself it is time to sleep. Studies have also found that massage can boost melatonin levels, increase the depth of sleep and lower the frequency of wake-ups during the night.
For people who suffer from insomnia or other sleep disorders, the type of massage that is best is a deep tissue or trigger point massage. These types of massages target the deeper layers of muscle and can ease tense areas that are preventing restful sleep.
Another issue that can cause poor sleep is Restless Leg Syndrome, which can be caused by a tense muscle or tight muscles in the legs. These issues can be treated with a trigger point massage, which targets the specific tight area. This can ease the tingling, itching or creepy-crawly sensations that often accompany this condition.
Aside from promoting relaxation, massage is also beneficial for those who suffer from chronic pain, which can interfere with getting a good night’s rest. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that massage can alleviate the underlying cause of insomnia, which is pain.