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- Massage Idaho Falls - |
Pain Management
One of the most beneficial and common benefits of therapeutic massage is pain relief. Whether it be chronic pain due to certain disorders, sore muscles, or injury rehabilitation, massage can be an effective addition to standard heath care protocols. Remember to use prescribed anti-inflammatory medications, continue physical therapy exercises, use heat and cold treatments, and follow any other recommendations from your doctor. Massage should not be your sole source of pain relief or symptom management with chronic disease. However, it can be a valuable counterpart to your primary medical care, and many people rely heavily on massage for its pain relieving properties. Those that suffer from chronic pain may find it most effective as a pain management strategy to schedule regular massages, rather than a sporadic intervention.
How can massage help my pain? 1. Improves circulation You have heard that massage increases circulation, but what does this mean and why does this matter? When we have an infection or an injury we will likely have inflammation. The heat and swelling of inflammation will also cause pain in problem areas. When fluid and inflammation build up, it puts pressure on our blood vessels. This can reduce blood flow to the area. This is a big problem when it comes to pain because all of this pressure will agitate the nerves and cause pain. When your local massage therapist works on you, your circulation improves, and extra fluid, inflammation, and pressure are reduced. Your nerves are less irritated, and your pain decreases! |
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2. Releases the good chemicals
Many people with chronic pain syndromes like Fibromyalgia and arthritis struggle to adequately manage their pain. Many of these clients report a positive benefit from regular massage. One reason for this may be that massage causes a release of serotonin and endorphins. Endorphins and serotonin are produced by the nervous system to aid in dealing with pain. Serotonin is the chemical this is stimulated by happy thoughts and sunshine, among other things. If massage increases the release of these chemicals, is it any wonder that the sensation of pain is reduced? Most people report a feeling of increased overall well being following massage treatments. Massage is meant as a whole body approach to pain relief, and it is working.
3. Better sleep means less pain
Massages are a wonderful method of relaxing both mind and body, and so it comes as no surprise that they are effective in combating sleep disorders and chronic insomnia. Not only do we need sleep in order to function well and have adequate energy the next day, our bodies also require deep sleep in order to restore and repair itself. Our cells repair damage from stress and other factors and our bodies detoxify themselves all while we sleep! Improved sleep is one of the most common benefits clients claim from their massage therapy appointments, and deep sleep is essential for promoting healing and reducing pain.
4. Work out those aches and pains!
Your local Massage Idaho Falls experts know how to target those trouble spots. With deep tissue massage, trigger point massage and hot stone massage among others, massage therapists can find where you hurt and are tight and specifically work on those areas. As knots loosen and muscle imbalances are reduced, pain naturally decreases. You might experience some temporary superficial discomfort, but the results will be worth it! Once you locate a promising massage near you, be sure to ask your therapist about their experience and qualifications in pain management massage.
5. Pain Gate theory
Why do we rub a sore spot to make if feel better? One popular theory suggests that pain is more than simply how much trauma an area of the body has experienced. It also largely has to do with how our brains perceive the pain. In other words, whether we are experiencing a larger or smaller amount of pain has much to do with how much pain is allowed through the “gate” of our nerve fibers. Various nerves, both large and small, go into the spinal cord. The largest fibers are the ones that receive pain signals. Increasing sensory stimulation such as through massage, can in effect, flood the gate, and make it less likely for the pain signal to enter the central nervous system. When there is less sensory input we are likely to experience more pain. This explains why everything hurts worse at night! We aren’t moving, and there is very little sensory stimulation. Massage therapists flood the pain gate with calming, therapeutic massage techniques, thereby reducing pain.
Remember, massage will be most effective in reducing or eliminating pain when used in combination with other strategies. Make an appointment today for a soothing, therapeutic massage.
Many people with chronic pain syndromes like Fibromyalgia and arthritis struggle to adequately manage their pain. Many of these clients report a positive benefit from regular massage. One reason for this may be that massage causes a release of serotonin and endorphins. Endorphins and serotonin are produced by the nervous system to aid in dealing with pain. Serotonin is the chemical this is stimulated by happy thoughts and sunshine, among other things. If massage increases the release of these chemicals, is it any wonder that the sensation of pain is reduced? Most people report a feeling of increased overall well being following massage treatments. Massage is meant as a whole body approach to pain relief, and it is working.
3. Better sleep means less pain
Massages are a wonderful method of relaxing both mind and body, and so it comes as no surprise that they are effective in combating sleep disorders and chronic insomnia. Not only do we need sleep in order to function well and have adequate energy the next day, our bodies also require deep sleep in order to restore and repair itself. Our cells repair damage from stress and other factors and our bodies detoxify themselves all while we sleep! Improved sleep is one of the most common benefits clients claim from their massage therapy appointments, and deep sleep is essential for promoting healing and reducing pain.
4. Work out those aches and pains!
Your local Massage Idaho Falls experts know how to target those trouble spots. With deep tissue massage, trigger point massage and hot stone massage among others, massage therapists can find where you hurt and are tight and specifically work on those areas. As knots loosen and muscle imbalances are reduced, pain naturally decreases. You might experience some temporary superficial discomfort, but the results will be worth it! Once you locate a promising massage near you, be sure to ask your therapist about their experience and qualifications in pain management massage.
5. Pain Gate theory
Why do we rub a sore spot to make if feel better? One popular theory suggests that pain is more than simply how much trauma an area of the body has experienced. It also largely has to do with how our brains perceive the pain. In other words, whether we are experiencing a larger or smaller amount of pain has much to do with how much pain is allowed through the “gate” of our nerve fibers. Various nerves, both large and small, go into the spinal cord. The largest fibers are the ones that receive pain signals. Increasing sensory stimulation such as through massage, can in effect, flood the gate, and make it less likely for the pain signal to enter the central nervous system. When there is less sensory input we are likely to experience more pain. This explains why everything hurts worse at night! We aren’t moving, and there is very little sensory stimulation. Massage therapists flood the pain gate with calming, therapeutic massage techniques, thereby reducing pain.
Remember, massage will be most effective in reducing or eliminating pain when used in combination with other strategies. Make an appointment today for a soothing, therapeutic massage.
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