Stephanie Macintosh asked:


Massage therapy can offer senior citizens a number of benefits that will greatly improve their sense of health and wellbeing. As the population continues to age, it is important to consider ways that we can work to improve the lives of those affected by the passing of time. A number of studies have shown that massage therapy can have a direct impact in managing the effects of aging. It has also shown promise in bringing comfort to those suffering from arthritis and other physical ailments.

As people age, they naturally become less active. This lack of physical activity can lead to the onset of other conditions which, if not dealt with, can greatly reduce their quality of life. The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) has been promoting the use of massage therapy for some time now. According to a recent study, there is a general awareness of massage therapy but a lack of understanding of its direct benefits.

In the case of senior citizens, there are a number of benefits that be derived from therapeutic massage. According to the Touch Research Institute, it is extremely useful in the treatment of Alzheimer’s patients, as it can facilitate relaxation and communication. In the case of arthritis sufferers, it can greatly assist in pain management and help increase range of motion. It also triggers natural joint lubrication, which is extremely important for those suffering from arthritis.

Massage therapy has also shown promise by helping to increase strength and muscle coordination. It can also greatly improve one’s posture by reducing muscle tension, which has the added benefit of assisting seniors with a higher quality of rest. Massage has also been known to boost one’s natural energy levels, along with their mental awareness. Study after study has shown that there is a place for massage therapy within the health care community.

More and more people are becoming aware of the benefits of massage therapy. In an age where the common approach to pain management has been dominated by the interests of the pharmaceutical industry, massage therapy has shown to be an effective and natural solution to the ailments associated with process of aging. If you or a loved one are interested in learning more about the benefits of therapeutic massage, please visit the website mentioned below.

daveclark asked:


This may sound all too familiar, but please, stick with me on this:

Get up, get the kids up, get the kids washed and dressed, organize breakfast, sort out lunches, encourage the use of hats, coats and shoes, herd them into the car, drop them off at school and then take yourself off to work. (Hopefully you’ll find time in there somewhere to get yourself washed and dressed and grab some breakfast of your own) Collect the kids, help with homework, fix dinner, adopt the role of entertainer or taxi driver, put them to bed, collapse in armchair, go to bed yourself, get some sleep. Get up, start all over again.

The tragedy of the routine described above is that it’s less of a cliche than you might think.

Somewhere in that routine is a frighteningly accurate description of me… and it wasn’t that long ago.

The lifestyle I once had, allowed absolutely no time for me, or me time to be specific. If I entertained any notion of putting myself first, it was very quickly replaced by the next immediate task in a very full and hectic schedule that revolved around everyone but me. I just couldn’t contemplate anything different.

What set me straight was a gift from a friend. The gift was a massage. My friend knew perfectly well that there was no way I would organize this for myself, it was just too much of an indulgence, as I understood it then. And besides, even if the notion ever entered my head, when was I going to find the opportunity to step out of my routine and do something purely for me?

Well thankfully my friend made my gift specific to me and made sure that it could only be enjoyed by me, and I’ve never been so grateful. In accepting that gift, I had no idea of the lasting effects it would have. If nobody had made me aware, I would never have been exposed to the benefits that massage and massage therapy can and do bring.

In terms of the range of benefits that massage therapy brings, they can be as basic as feeling a whole lot better (special) for a short period of time to transforming your life for the better, for as long as you want. Without sounding too dramatic, massage therapy can be life changing. Just because massage and massage therapy sounds like a luxury and an indulgence, doesn’t mean it is, in fact the opposite is true.

Massage and massage therapy is an essential element in your health and wellness plan. It can have a fundamental impact on the quality of your life, and in no way should it be considered a luxury, and it is certainly not the preserve of the wealthy.

Having the awareness that you need to regularly schedule time for your health and wellness alongside your everyday routines may be an awkward concept, but please consider this as a proposal that you must develop. There is no maybe here, it is a must.

Maybe you’re the person I described above, and you just can’t see the wood for the trees because you just aren’t aware that there’s a different way. Who knows, maybe one of your friends will give you the same wonderful gift that I received and you could be on your way to a whole new you. Who knows.

The truth is, if you’re reading this right now, you don’t need any further prompt. My message is crystal clear: Schedule some time for your own health and wellbeing as a matter of utmost urgency.

Alex Olson asked:


Massage therapy covers a large group of techniques and practices. Did you know that over 80 types of massage exist? In all of these kinds of massage, the therapist presses, rubs and manipulates the muscles and some of the other soft body tissues using varying movement and pressure.

Most therapists use their hands and fingers, but some may use their elbows, forearms or feet. The main purpose of massage therapy is to relax the soft tissues and increase the delivery of oxygen and blood to the areas that have been massaged, warm them and thereby decrease pain.

Here are a few of the popular types of massage therapy:

1. Swedish massage – In this type of therapy, the therapist will use long strokes, knead and will use friction on the muscles. He or she will also move the joint to aid in their flexibility.

2. Deep tissue massage – The therapist will use patterns of deep finger pressure and strokes on different parts of the body where the muscles are knotted and tight. The therapist will focus on layers of muscles that are deep under the skin.

3. Trigger point massage – A variety of strokes are used by the therapist and deeper and more focused pressure is applied on knots that will sometimes form in the muscles. These knots are painful when they are pressed and can cause symptoms in other parts of the body.

4. Shiatsu massage – Varying rhythmic pressures are applied by the therapist from the fingers on different body parts that are important for the flow of vital energy which is call qi.

There are many reasons why people use this therapy. Most of these are health related issues such as: the relief of pain, stress, to rehabilitate sports injuries, increase relaxation, aid in the feeling of general wellness and help in the areas of depression and anxiety.

There are some other reasons that scientists may feel that massage therapy is beneficial:

1. Changes occur in the muscles of the body when certain forces are applied to them.

2. Massage therapy may help to block pain signals that are sent to the brain.

3. Massage may help to guide a person’s nervous system away from the sympathetic and move it towards the parasympathetic. The sympathetic nervous system is often referred to as the fight-or-flight response. The parasympathetic nervous system helps the heart rate and the breathing to slow down and the person becomes more relaxed.

4. Massage therapy may stimulate the release of serotonin or endorphins(chemical).

5. Massage may help cause beneficial changes in the body for example, the prevention of scar tissue formation and the increase of the flow of lymph which help in the fight against disease.

6. Massage therapy may help to improve sleep. This plays a role in pain and in healing.

7. It may also provide a health benefit due to the interaction between the patient and the therapist.

If you have never tried massage therapy, and if it is within your budget, then you may want to give it a try. Perhaps you may experience some of the benefits that it has to offer.

Oakworks Inc asked:


Massage therapy has been in use for a long time. Chinese documents dating back more than 3000 years denote its use. In recent years, massage therapy has grown in relevance, popularity and significance as a viable alternative to more traditional treatments. Adding to the legitimacy of massage as an alternative treatment option, many states now regulate the industry by requiring massage therapists be fully trained and licensed. Massage therapy techniques target the muscles and soft tissue of the human body to help promote natural healing. Since its first documented use, massage therapy techniques have evolved to offers more that 250 different techniques or modalities.

Licensed massage therapists (LMTs) are providing treatment in all sorts of settings; from offices and airports to spas and luxury hotels. Many businesses have even contracted LMTs to come into their workplace and provide massages to their employees. Portable massage tables and chairs have enabled the industry to provide their services in almost any location. Jeffry Riach, Co-Owner and CEO of Oakworks Inc, the leading manufacturer of portable massage tables and chairs for over 30 years noted that Oakworks continues to see an increasing demand for professional massage tables and chairs. Mr. Riach went on to say that whats even more exciting is the demand were seeing for our professional massage table products for use in home spas. You can view the entire line of Oakworks Professional Massage tables and Massage Chairs by visiting www.oakworks.com.

If youre considering getting a massage, youll want to take a few things into consideration. One of the most important aspects youll want to pay close attention to is the qualifications of the massage therapist who will be performing your massage. You can find out if your state requires a license by visiting the Massage Register website at www.massageregister.com and clicking on the Certification and Licensing link under the General information heading. If your does require massage therapists be licensed, dont be afraid to ask if the person giving the treatment is licensed and ask to see the license.

Youll also want to know the type of modality the massage therapist uses. You can find out more about massage therapy and different massage modalities by visiting the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals website at www.massagetherapy.com. With more that 250 modalities in use today, it can be a bit daunting to understand all of them, but the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals website does a great job of breaking them down into simple to understand terms. The LMT you choose will also be able to explain the modality(s) they use and also help you understand what the benefits of their chosen modality or modalities are.

And finally, ask about any equipment they will be using including massage tables or massage chairs, oils or lotions. Let your LMT know if you have any allergies as this may affect the use of some oils or lotions. Also, massage table drapes and face rest covers and may be of concern. Tell your LMT if you have any allergies to perfumes, dyes or synthetic materials.

Millions of people around the world have discovered the exceptional benefits of massage therapy as an alternative to traditional medicines. Massage therapy provides numerous health benefits. Highest among those benefits are pain relief and stress relief. As our lives continue to move at a faster pace, were continually searching for ways to get healthy, relax and unwind. For many, massage therapy is the key to maintaining their health and wellbeing.

MIKE SELVON asked:


The practice of massage therapy has a long and rich history. Cultures from all over the world have had some experience with this form of holistic medicine. Even Hippocrates wrote of how physicians should know how to give, what we now call a therapeutic massage, to someone to ensure their overall well-being.

Obviously, he was right because the job field for massage therapists is booming and there is always a great demand for this form of therapy in a variety of settings. Even though the popularity rises and falls, aromatherapy massage is still going strong.

If you think about it, then massage therapy makes sense. Have you ever pulled a muscle or had an aching back? Did you rub the area and gain some relief? It could have been that the muscle was knotted up and your rubbing relaxed the muscle.

That is what massage therapists do to help relieve muscle aches, sprains, strains and injury when they occur. They work each of the muscles to allow them to become relaxed. This takes a lot of the soreness and muscle ache out of the area of the injury.

Such therapists perform a different function than a typical masseuse. The masseuse will use body lotions that are made from aromatherapy essential oils. This produces either a calming effect or makes the person feel rejuvenation all along their tired and aching body. A very popular essential oil is lavender. Lavender is known for its calming affect which in turn allows the individual, and their muscles, to relax.

Such therapists are typically found in hospitals, physical therapy offices, spas and beauty salons. They also work with professional athletes to help them recover from an injury or from the rigors of their sport. They have begun to find a vital position in the medical field for their work. Considering how long masseuses have been around, it is time for them to be recognized for their profession.

Massage therapy can work for you if you find yourself with a muscle injury. It can also be an incredible way to de-stress from work. Regardless if you are a man or a woman, a massage can help you to feel better and you will find that you have a renewed sense of vigor to tackle your duties and responsibilities. The best place to look for a trained therapist is to go to a local spa and make an appointment with them for a full body massage.

Paul Zayer asked:


Massage therapy has been around for a long time. Massages were used as part of medical and health procedures in ancient cultures in Egypt, Greece, China, India and Rome.

All kinds of medical conditions and disorders were treated by massages. Massage can help you relax and can be used to treat stress Most of the time it promotes a feeling of well being. Massage therapy solicits all aspects of the physical system – the muscular, nervous, circulatory and immune systems.

Beside the physical benefits of massage therapy, the most important one is psychological; the intimate contact with another human being provides the feel-good aspect.

One of the ultimate forms of stress relief is a full body massage. A lot of persons who had a full body massage keep talking about how great the feel afterwards. The first thing that someone usually does after experiencing his or her first full body massage is book another full body massage! A common response from people who’ve experienced a full body massage is that for the first time in their lives they feel they’ve totally relaxed.

In addition to full body massage, massage can be used on specific, individual parts of the body. The foot is one of the main individual body parts that can be obtained through a specialist form of massages. The foot massage is normally called reflexology.

Massage therapy was on the fringes of conventional medicine for a long time, but the modern medical experts generally accept the efficacy of massage. In fact, massage therapy in now offered by more than 70% of American hospitals as a part of their treatments.

What do hospitals use massage therapy for? They use it in the treatment of chronic pain symptoms, in cancer cases, pregnancy, infant care, joint and muscle mobility, stress management and many other symptoms and disorders.

New research suggests that massage therapy helps to boost the immune system, manage pain and lower blood pressure.

Massage therapies can also be benefit for people who are receiving drug and alcohol withdrawal cure. Massage therapy can also be associated to other therapies to strengthen their effects – e.g. aromatherapy, reflexology, acupressure and reiki.

To see massage therapy going from the alternative medicine field to the mainstream because this means that many more people can now experience the benefits of this very versatile form of treatment and therapy. So if you want to get the benefits of massage therapy you have to do the first step. Get in touch with someone that does massages and find out on your own all the benefits.

Ben Thompson asked:


It’s not hard to sell most people on the benefits of massage therapy – who wouldn’t want to lose themselves in an hour of therapeutic relaxation? But since it does carry some moderate expense, it helps to know about the many benefits.

Some people seek out the services of a massage therapist simply because they need some down-time to relax and refresh; certainly, this is enough of a reason to frequent the massage therapist’s office in itself, but there are also many health benefits; an increasingly large number of clients find their way to the table in search of relief modern medicine has been unable to manage. Likewise, clients also seek massage therapy services to supplement and enhance both modern and alternative medical treatments.

The Many Benefits Of Massage Therapy

Regardless of the impetus, clients find numerous incomparable benefits; it is not at all uncommon for a client to come into massage therapy for the treatment of one symptom or condition, only to find wide ranging benefits that treat a number of other conditions.

The most notable advantages include:

* Improved blood circulation

* Stimulation/relief of muscle pain due to lack of activity (often caused by sedentary jobs)

* Increased alertness

* Decrease in back pain (one of the leading reasons for seeking massage services)

* Improved mood

* Reduced stress levels

* Reduced instances of stress-related illness including tension headaches

* Decreased muscle stiffness/increased mobility

* Improved ability to heal (in part due to circulation/stimulation improvement)

* Reduction in muscle spasms

* Increased physical performance/athleticism

* Improved deep breathing

* Improved posture

* Strengthened immune system

* Reduction in anxiety levels

* Lower dependence on medication

* Improved joint flexibility

* Lessened risk of depression

* Promotes healing of soft tissues, including scars

* Improved delivery of oxygen and nutrients

* Increases pain tolerance by releasing endorphins (natural pain killers of the human body)

* Eases pain of childbirth

* Relieves sleep loss/insomnia

* Increased energy, reduction in frequency and severity of fatigue

Netting The Biggest Benefits

Even a one-time visit to the massage therapist can net excellent benefits; but for the most lasting benefits, regular sessions are recommended. Regular therapy ensures that the body continues to enjoy the increase in circulatory health and relief of muscle tension which directly contribute to the benefits. Over time, the expense of sessions is easily mitigated in increased health and well-being, and in a large number of cases, in the savings enjoyed between decreased use and cost of medications, doctors’ visits, and time lost from work.

Stephanie Macintosh asked:


There are a wide variety of different massage styles available, including the widely known Swedish or Classic massage style, deep muscle therapy, and trigger point therapy, all of which are used therapeutically to promote circulation in the body, loosen tired and sore muscles, and to prevent or eliminate pain.

Often the terms “massage” and “massage therapy” are used interchangeably – however, the two are in fact somewhat different services according to practitioners of massage therapy. While “massage” may be aimed solely at relaxation, massage therapy tends to be approached from a more therapeutic position, as an augmentation or in some cases replacement for more invasive medical techniques in order to deal with chronic disorders or conditions of pain. There are a growing number of hospitals now either partnering with massage therapy centers or offering massage therapy directly within the facility – some sufferers from chronic pain feel that massage therapy is far more effective than therapeutic drug therapy.

Trigger point massage is used on very specific muscle groups which are believed to transmit pain to different areas, in some cases causing a misdiagnosed medical condition, or at least causing the sufferer to believe that the problem is located in a different area than is actually the case. In this type of massage, strong pressure is applied to specific areas, with many patients reporting excellent results up to and including immediate relief of back, neck, and joint pain.

Other types of massage include hot rock massages in which warmed stones are used to apply both heat and pressure a client’s musculature as a way of dissolving muscular knots, providing relaxation, and promoting circulation which is known to have a variety of physiological benefits.

Over 50 million Americans will get at least one massage this year, with many companies now encouraging their employees to make use of massage therapy services as a way of boosting morale and improving productivity. Sufferers of chronic conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome are increasingly encouraged by doctors and physiotherapists to explore the possibilities of massage therapy as a possible alternative to expensive surgery or prescription drug use. Massage therapy is a growing field with potential benefits for many people – if you experience back pain or headaches, massage may be great way to find relief and relaxation at the same time.

Munya Chinongoza asked:


Whether it is to get that moment of relaxation or to retain relief from that aching pain, there are many wonderful benefits of this type of therapy. Massage therapy is something that people of all ages can enjoy and benefit from. It relieves the injured, the ill or stressed and those who just want to enjoy a nice relaxing massage.

If given by a professional, it can be a very pleasurable experience which reduces the stress and tension in ones body. It may calm an individual’s nerves allowing them to clear their minds. A study has shown that after medical students in New Jersey were massaged before an exam, there was a decrease in their anxiety and it also stabilized respiratory levels. In general it improves your mood whether people are sad, angry or depressed. Another study showed that women who have suffered the recent death of their child were less depressed after receiving a massage.

In addition, it has been discovered that this therapy also encourages our metabolism. A study concluded that office workers who were massaged were more alert and ready for action at work, compared to those who were not massaged. By reducing spasms, tension and cramping is also helped those who play sports, making players play more effectively lowering the risk of one of the injuries stated above during a game. By receiving a massage, we also improve the efficiency of our movements leaving us less stiff and creating sufficient blood flow complimenting the actions of the heart.

This will lead to increased stimulation to the lungs and other parts of the body, while nutrition distribution takes place to the body.

Whether its just to benefit one of your major systems, reach relaxation and peace of mind or to help our bodies heal a lot faster massage therapy works. There are many massage therapy benefits to senior health so why not enjoy some of them, today?