3 Unusual Benefits Of Massage Therapy
While you may have heard that massage therapy can help ease sore muscles, promote relaxation, and relieve back pain, there are other, less common benefits that you may be surprised at. Although almost anyone can administer a massage, it is best to rely on the professional expertise of a chiropractor or licensed massage therapist. Here are three unusual benefits of massage therapy and the logic behind them:
Enhances Immunity
A massage can help boost your immunity and perhaps lower your risk for bacterial and viral infections. According to Illinois State University, massage can help raise your white blood cell count.
When you have adequate levels of infection-fighting white blood cells, your body may be more equipped to stave off disease and illnesses. Another way massage therapy can boost your immune function is by promoting effective lymphatic drainage.
Massage may help drain toxic fluid from your lymphatic system so that healthy drainage can be facilitated. Because of this, optimal circulation is achieved, which also helps enhance your immune function to keep you healthy.
If you have a cold or the flu, a professional massage may be just the thing you need to shorten the course of your infection. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, discuss them with your chiropractor before your massage session begins. When he or she knows about your current and past medical history, your massage can be better personalized to meet your specific health needs.
Eases TMJ
If you have a painful condition known as temporomandibular joint dysfunction, or TMJ, you are probably very familiar with its symptoms, They include severe jaw pain, joint popping, headaches, neck pain, and fatigue.
While pain medications and dental treatment can help ease your symptoms, your chiropractor can assess your situation and recommend an appropriate treatment, including therapeutic massage.
By massaging certain trigger points around your mandible, neck, ears, and mouth, mobility and range of motion can be greatly restored to your temporomandibular joint. Your massage therapist or chiropractor can further explain the benefits of trigger point therapy, which may help you feel more comfortable when chewing, speaking, and sleeping.
Lowers Blood Glucose Levels
If you suffer from diabetes, then you know how important it is to maintain tight control over your blood sugar levels. Diabetes, especially poorly managed or longstanding diabetes, can raise your risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, blood clots, renal failure, and diabetic foot ulcers.
Although maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, following your diabetic diet, and taking your prescribed medications can all help keep your disease under control, therapeutic massage can be beneficial as well. It is thought that spikes in blood sugar can be caused by pain and stress, both of which can be helped through massage.
Therapeutic massage can promote the release of "feel good" chemicals in your brain called endorphins. These chemicals have the potential to diminish pain while enhancing your sense of well-being.
Massage can also help improve your sleep quality, which is also an important component of a diabetic treatment plan. Using massage in conjunction with your diabetic protocol can result in normal blood sugar levels and improved circulation.
If you are experiencing pain, difficulty sleeping, anxiety or depression, or other chronic health problems, make an appointment with your chiropractor to learn more about how therapeutic massage can help you feel better.
Massage can effectively augment and complement your current medical treatment or can be used a stand-alone therapeutic measure to help manage both your physical and emotional well-being. In addition to massage, your chiropractor can offer spinal manipulation therapy to further enhance your comfort level while promoting relaxation, restorative sleep, improved circulation, and better mobility and range of motion. To learn more, contact a company like Progressive Chiropractic.
