The field of Massage Therapist Tulsa is growing and becoming increasingly integrated into healthcare. Licensed massage therapists work with acupuncturists, medical doctors, and physical therapists to help their patients heal.
There are many different massage techniques, and each has its own benefits. But which one is right for you? In this article, we will explore the most popular massage styles.
Stress is a natural part of life, but too much can be unhealthy. It can affect the body physically and mentally. A massage is a great way to relieve stress and anxiety because it helps reduce muscle tension that causes stress. It also releases hormones that help calm the mind. This is why people often feel more relaxed after a massage. It is important to find ways to manage your stress, such as exercise, meditation, and taking time out of your day to relax.
A massage is not only a great way to relieve stress, but it also improves mood and makes you feel better about yourself. During a massage, the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine are increased, which can make you happier. In addition, a study from the University of Miami School of Medicine found that getting a massage decreased cortisol levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone that can cause anxiety and depression.
The kneading and deep pressure of a massage stimulate the body’s natural calming response. This is due to the release of the hormones serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. Oxytocin is a chemical that regulates the nervous system. It also increases the blood supply to your organs and tissues, which can slow down your heart rate. In fact, a massage can even lower your blood pressure and increase your heart rate variability, which is an indicator of heart health.
While it’s true that certain pressure points, reflexology and acupressure can help reduce stress and anxiety, clinical trials have shown that any remedial massage will do the trick. This is because the back and shoulders, feet and hands are all effective places to apply a rubdown. In fact, studies have found that a full-body massage significantly decreases anxiety symptoms, and the benefits are not short-lived.
A massage is a great place to escape from the world and focus solely on yourself for an hour. It is like an hourlong hug, and it can satisfy your need for human contact and comfort. Research has also found that massage can boost levels of the hormone serotonin, which is known to reduce depression and anxiety. It can also decrease activity in the right frontal lobe of the brain, which is linked to negative emotion, and increase activity in the left frontal lobe, which is associated with positive emotions.
Helps with Insomnia
A good night’s sleep is essential to your health. It reduces stress, lowers cortisol levels, and increases your body’s production of melatonin, which controls sleep and wake cycles. Unfortunately, many people struggle with sleep disorders like insomnia or restless leg syndrome, which can lead to a variety of physical and emotional problems. Fortunately, massage therapy has been shown to be an effective non-pharmaceutical treatment for sleep disorders.
One of the most common causes of insomnia is stress and anxiety. Massage has been shown to help reduce these symptoms in patients with chronic anxiety, depression, and even PTSD. This is because massage increases the production of feel-good hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin, which can help alleviate these symptoms.
Additionally, massage can help with underlying physical issues that can cause insomnia. Studies have shown that massage can decrease pain and increase range of motion in the joints and muscles. This can also improve sleep quality by reducing discomfort and improving circulation.
Another reason that massage helps with insomnia is because it promotes a deep state of relaxation, which can make it easier to fall asleep at night. This is because a massage triggers the “relaxation response” in the brain, which slows heart and breathing rates, lowers blood pressure, and decreases stress hormone production by up to 53%.
Lastly, massage can stimulate the release of melatonin, which is a sleep-inducing hormone. Studies have shown that when massage therapy is combined with a sleep-promoting routine, such as a relaxing bedtime ritual and a consistent massage schedule, it can dramatically improve sleep quality and increase the number of restful nights you’ll experience each week.
If you’re having trouble sleeping, try giving yourself a professional massage at least once every other week. In addition to feeling great, this will help you get the restful, healthy night’s sleep that you deserve. For more information about the benefits of massage, contact a local therapist today. They’ll be happy to discuss how they can help you achieve a better night’s sleep!
Relieves Pain
Pain is the most common reason people seek medical attention and massage therapy can relieve it. A massage therapist manipulates soft tissues, including muscles, tendons and ligaments, using varying degrees of pressure and movement to increase mobility and reduce pain. It can help manage chronic pain from conditions such as arthritis, migraines, back pain and sports injuries. The specialized pressure and movements also stimulate the release of feel good hormones such as endorphins, serotonin and dopamine which reduce stress, depression and anxiety while decreasing pain levels.
The therapist will ask the client for information about their health status before a massage to determine whether it is safe, especially if they have a condition that may be affected by it. The therapist can then modify their technique to ensure that the treatment is safe and comfortable for the client. It is important to speak up during the treatment if the massage is uncomfortable or painful to alert the therapist immediately.
A massage may relieve pain by relaxing tight muscles, increasing flexibility and aiding the body’s natural healing processes. The therapist may use different types of massage such as deep tissue, remedial, pregnancy, shiatsu and hot stone to ease pain from specific areas of the body.
When a muscle is damaged, it often contracts to protect the area and this can cause stiffness and reduced range of movement. A massage helps reduce this by stimulating blood flow which warms the muscle and allows it to relax. This also increases the elasticity of the muscle which improves the ability of the muscle to move and stretch freely.
A massage also promotes the removal of waste products from the muscle. Waste products build up in the muscles and can lead to fatigue, weakness and pain. A massage stimulates the lymphatic system to transport the waste products to glands or nodes where they are removed from the body. The therapist can also massage the craniosacral system which is made up of membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround the brain and spinal cord to improve movement and reduce pain.
Helps with Pregnancy
Pregnancy is normally a joyous time for women, but it can also be hard on the body. Luckily, massage therapy can help with many of the discomforts that come with pregnancy.
Studies have shown that massage can alter hormone levels associated with stress and depression, while boosting dopamine and serotonin (hormones that improve mood). Some women also experience headaches during pregnancy, which can be relieved by massage. A massage therapist can use gentle pressure to relax the muscles, and the warmth of the room can make you feel more relaxed.
A massage can help relieve aches and pains caused by muscle cramping and stretched joints. A massage can also reduce swelling in the legs and feet, which is common in pregnancy. Massage can also help with sciatic nerve pain, which is often felt by pregnant women in the later stages of their pregnancy when the uterus rests on pelvic floor and lower back muscles. Sciatic nerve pain can be alleviated through massage techniques that address the underlying causes of the discomfort, such as releasing tight muscles and relieving compression of the nerves.
Massage can also reduce nausea and vomiting, which is common in pregnancy. Studies show that those who receive regular massages have lower cortisol levels, which can lead to less nausea and fewer episodes of vomiting.
Some massage therapists specialize in prenatal massage. They can help the client get into a comfortable position with pillows and may use special oils that are safe for pregnancy. The therapist can also help the woman with her posture to alleviate pain from the strain on the back and hips.
A massage therapist should never perform deep massage or apply strong pressure to the abdomen during pregnancy. Those with high-risk pregnancies should avoid massage, as the pressure could cause a blood clot. Those with varicose veins should also avoid massage, as the pressure on the legs could dislodge a clot and create serious complications. A therapist should always discuss massage with the client’s doctor or midwife before starting treatment. The therapist can also recommend other therapeutic practices that the woman should do to promote a healthy pregnancy.
