Benefits of Massage
By: Maeva Braxton, CMT
This blog post was written by one of our partners, Maeva Braxton, CMT. Maeva has been a massage therapist for over 18 years and specializes in Trigger Point Therapy. Maeva has been very helpful over the years assisting our patients return to full function and helping to maintain that function with her massages. Massage therapy can be a great adjunt to physical therapy and provide continued relief when physical therapy is over.
Bodywork Goes Beyond Relaxation. Evidence is showing that the more massage you can allow yourself, the better you’ll feel.
Here’s why:
The physical changes massage brings to your body can have a positive effect in many areas of your life. Besides increasing relaxation and decreasing anxiety, massage has been shown to lower blood pressure, increases circulation, improves injury recovery, encourages deep sleep, and increase concentration. It can reduce fatigue and gives you more energy to handle stressful situations.
What It Does
In an age of technical and, at times, impersonal medicine, massage offers a drug-free, non-invasive, and humanistic approach based on the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Following is a brief list of the many known, there are some research-based benefits of massage and bodywork:
– Increases circulation, allowing the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs;
– Stimulates the flow of lymph, the body’s natural defense system, against toxic invaders. Furthermore, increased circulation of blood and lymph systems improves the condition of the body’s largest organ — the skin;
– Relaxes and softens injured and overused muscles;
– Reduces spasms and cramping;
– Help to Increase joint mobility;
– Reduces recovery time and helps prepare the body for strenuous workouts, reducing subsequent muscle pain of athletes at any level;
– Releases endorphins — the body’s natural painkiller — and is proving very beneficial in patients with chronic illness, injury, and post-op pain;
– Reduces post-surgery adhesions and edema and can be used to reduce and realign scar tissue after healing has occurred;
– Improves range-of-motion and decreases discomfort for patients with low back pain;
– Relieves pain for migraine sufferers and decreases the need for medication;
– Assist with exercise and stretching for atrophied muscles and reduces shortening of the muscles for those with restricted range of motion;
The benefits of massage are diverse. No matter how great it feels, massage isn’t just a luxury; it’s a health necessity.
Maeva Braxton, CMT, has been a massage therapist for over 18 years and specializes in Trigger Point Therapy. For more information about Maeva and her massages visit, SorelyKneaded.com. You can contact Maeva at (312) 687-2822 or through her website, SorelyKneaded.com. She is currently offering $20 off a massage if you book online, Sorely Kneaded Gift Certificates, before May 1st, 2020 to be used when the shelter in place orders are lifted.
