By Shannon Thrasher, Licensed Massage Therapist, Licensed Esthetician
Massage therapy is the manual manipulation of soft body tissues (muscle, connective tissue, tendons, and ligaments) to enhance their function and promote a person’s health and well-being.
Studies have shown that massage is an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain, and muscle tension. Massage may also be helpful for:
- Anxiety
- Digestive disorders
- Pregnancy-related back pain and other discomfort
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches
- Muscle injuries
- TMJ
Most of us are aware of what massage is and at least some of the benefits that massage offers. But if you think beyond the benefits of massage for specific conditions, some people enjoy massage because it involves caring, comfort, and a sense of well-being. Massage can be as beneficial mentally as physically.
Have you ever thought of massage as touch therapy?
Of our five senses, touch is the only one that is essential to life. The sense of touch develops in the womb, before all other senses. Touch is how infants learn about their environment and bond with other people. Positive touch is necessary for an infant’s healthy development. Despite being given proper medical care, food, and a clean environment, without positive touch, infants will fail to thrive.
Tiffany Field has studied the effects of touch on infants extensively and her research has proven the importance of touch to the healthy development of an infant. Other research that has been done on touch confirms that touch continues to play a fundamental role in communication development throughout life.
Benefits associated with touch:
- Increased immunity
- Enhanced learning
- Increased physical recovery speeds
- Decreased stress
- Physical growth in infants and children
- Less cardiovascular disease in adults
- Decreased pain experienced by those suffering from chronic disease such as arthritis or fibromyalgia
Touch and the Elderly
As with any age group, massage has proven to be physically and mentally beneficial for the elderly. Studies have shown that the effects of aging take place faster in people lacking mental stimulation and who engage in little physical activity. These studies have shown that there is a link between reductions in physical activity to an increase in depression, which leads to many age-related diseases and conditions. Due to the connection between the physical and mental, treatments for the elderly should aid in improving the balance between the two. Massage provides that balance by stimulating the mind and the body and allowing for an individual’s health to thrive.
Massage of the elderly has shown to improve circulation of both blood and lymph, stimulate the nervous system, soften tight muscles, and enhance function of the digestive and respiratory processes. It also helped to promote sleep and an increased feeling of well-being.
Massage therapy is a form of touch and it is gaining acceptance among the medical community as an effective treatment for a multitude of physical and psychological problems.
Consider the healing power of touch; it may be an important step in the healing journey.
Are you physically hurting or know someone who is and could use massage for touch therapy? Make an appointment today at Infuse Skin and Body. For more information or to set up an appointment, call 309-691-5901 or visit www.infuseskinandbody.com.
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