This is a question, usually, from someone new to the massage therapy world, but the information contained here could benefit anyone seeking to learn more about the massage therapy field.

What are the benefits of massage therapy?

Massage therapy, which is an ancient practice used to manipulate the musculature of the body in a therapeutic way, has long been researched to have a large variety of benefits. According to AMTA, massage therapy can help to:

1. Relieve stress

2. Reduce anxiety

3. Reduce muscle tension

4. Sleep better/deeper

5. Encourage balance in the body

6. Manage low back pain

7. Manage neck pain

8. Manage minor headaches

9. Increase range of motion

10. Lower blood pressure

These are just a few of the potential benefits, as massage is a multi-dimensional practice, satisfying a multitude of needs on physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual levels. There are also many different types of massage. Each type of massage (or “modality”) can pinpoint more benefits in a more specific realm of healing. Swedish massage helps more with relaxation, Deep Tissue/Sports/Therapeutic massage helps with managing pain and encouraging balance, Orthopedic massage is used to specifically treat pain, and Lymphatic Drainage massage can help to relieve congestion, allergies, and even move waste material through the body. There are many other types of massage, and each modality can be used for a different purpose, each with different benefits to bring to the massage table.

During your next visit to a massage therapist, ask them which types of massage can help to address your specific needs!