What Health Benefits Does a Shoulder Massage Provide?

What Health Benefits Does a Should Massage Provide?

Healthcare providers regularly recommend massages to promote healing from injuries, reduce stress, and relieve pain from cancer. But you may be surprised to learn that massages offer many other health benefits. Here’s a look at all the ways your health can benefit from a shoulder massage, even if you aren’t suffering from a specific injury or other health condition. 

Massage Therapy Reduces Muscle Tension

The pressure and strokes applied by your massage therapist warm up the temperature of the muscle, stretching and increasing the elasticity of the tissue. Flexible muscles are less likely to sustain injuries. Moreover, because tension can cause pain to radiate to other areas of the body, a shoulder massage, for example, may also help to relax tight, painful muscles in the neck and the back. 

Getting a Massage Can Help You Get Better Sleep

Massages help to relax both the mind and the body. The calming, dim environment in the therapy room is designed to reduce external stimuli. The pulling and stretching techniques used by your massage therapist help to relax the muscles. The overall result is a peaceful and calm feeling, which is helpful for getting enough sleep. While at rest during sleep, our bodies can, therefore, recover from invisible injuries and stave off sickness.

Massages Can Give Your Immune System a Boost

No one likes getting sick. But most people don’t necessarily equate a shoulder massage or Swedish massage with sickness prevention. However, plenty of evidence supports that massages play a helpful role in boosting your immune system.

For example, studies have found that following a massage, levels of lymphocytes, which are essential in defending against disease, were significantly changed. Moreover, following massage therapy, the levels of cytokines (signaling molecules that help regulate inflammation) decreased significantly.

A Massage Can Lower Stress

Stress manifests itself as elevated levels of the hormone cortisol.  A shoulder massage, Swedish massage, or other type of massage helps to lower the level of cortisol in the body. At the same time, a massage promotes the release of serotonin, a hormone neurotransmitter that helps us feel happy.

Shoulder Massage for Injuries, Aches, & Pains

Clearly, a shoulder massage can promote general wellness. But they are also incredibly effective, non-pharmacological treatments for injuries such as tendinitis, shoulder instability, rotator cuff tears, sprains, and strains. Shoulder, back, and neck massage can also help improve posture and reduce aches and pains caused by repetitive use or sitting at a desk all day. Massages have also been known to help those who struggle with pain caused by cancer, migraines, and tension headaches.

Award-Winning Massage Therapists in Eugene

Whether you’re stressed, tired, achy, or injured, About Touch Massage & Acupuncture can help. Our team of licensed and experienced massage therapists and acupuncture providers are among the highest-rated in Lane County. To learn more, call 541-484-3055 or book your appointment online.