Massage is a form of tissue manipulation that has been used since ancient times and in a variety of cultures to alleviate physical pain and provide psychological benefits to the recipient. Massages have proven clinical efficacy and have been shown to provide therapy to muscles, joints, skin, connective tissue and ligaments. Massage can be used on a regular basis throughout life to revitalize the body and provide a sense of wellbeing, as well as provide physical benefits that may slow the natural processes of aging.

Massages can relieve a person of medication dependence by improving his or her range of motion by easing physical pain. This is especially important for people as they age, since often as one gets older muscle and joint pain become chronic issues that normally require the attention of medical doctors. After surgery, it is common for nurses to use deep tissue massage to speed up the repair of fascia, or muscle and bone connective tissue. These massages can help ease a person’s pain and alleviate his or her need to use potentially addictive or dangerous medications to treat post-surgery pain. Also, as muscles begin to atrophy or weaken as a result of the natural aging process, regular massage can help restore strength and self-sufficiency to an individual.

Additionally, massage has been shown to stimulate certain lymph glands of the human body, which increases hormone and lymphocyte production. Lymphocytes are white blood cells that are an integral part of one’s immune system, and by increasing the amount of lymphocytes the immune system is strengthened making a person less susceptible to diseases and better able to fight off infections .

As people age they often suffer from depression and anxiety, which usually results in expensive medication and psychotherapy treatment. Massage therapy has been shown to lessen the incidence of both anxiety and depression, especially since the disorders are sometimes linked to physical pain. Regular massage therapy can provide a wide array of positive effects on an aging person. Since massages benefit both an individual’s body and mind, a regular schedule of massage can help a person to stay healthy and feel young throughout life.

Therapeutic massage has countless benefits, and more people are choosing to take advantage of the relaxation it can bring, along with the relief of tension, stress, and pain. Even an occasional massage can do wonders for both your physical and mental well-being.

Some of the benefits that therapeutic massage is most commonly associated with are:

1. Relaxing Muscles – Muscles that stay tense for any amount of time can cause knots and pain that end up spreading from the original location. Massaging helps relax the internal muscles while training the body to relax. When done regularly, this can help the individual be conscious of stress levels and know what it feels like to be relaxed. Eventually, the body can restore that relaxing sensation automatically before the stress takes over again.

2. Improving Flexibility – One of the many things that happens to the body with age is the tightening of joints and loss of range of motion. This all has to do with changes in the connective tissues due to loss of fluids. A therapeutic massage that works on not just the muscles, but the tendons, ligaments and joints can trigger the body to begin producing more of its own natural lubrication – the result being a body that moves and stretches better.

3. Improving Posture – Years of bad posture caused by slouching over a desk, not standing up straight, and any number of things can bring on aches and pains. Regular massage therapy can loosen tight and painful spots in muscles and free up the joints, allowing the body to attain a more natural posture.

4. Relieving Stress and Anxiety – Therapeutic massage has been proven to provide individuals with peace of mind, mental acuity, and relief from stress. There have been studies that show that when students were massaged before an important test, their respiratory rates and anxiety were appreciably reduced.

Regular therapeutic massages can provide benefits other than the relaxation and loosening of tight muscles. It can improve circulation because the pressure used in a massage helps to move blood through areas that have poor circulation. When the pressure is released, new blood flows in.

Therapeutic massages after an injury or surgery can significantly speed up recovery and rehabilitation time. With an injury, when the circulation is improved and the muscles are relaxed, the body can get more oxygen and vital nutrients into tissues and organs.

Regular therapeutic massage can help those who live with chronic conditions. A massage can bring about physiological and chemical changes in the body that decrease the aches, pains, and stiffness of arthritis; increase lung function and airflow in asthmas patients; and reduce blood pressure, anxiety, and stress hormones.