Pain affects everyone differently based on several factors including: location of the pain, severity of injury or illness, and pain tolerance. There is a connection between massage therapy and pain management. But when it comes to chronic pain sufferers, a person’s pain can affect much more than just experiencing some discomfort. Pain is the leading source for disability, and a major reason why people access the healthcare system. When pain is severe, it can affect you physically as well as creates a miserable toll on your mental and emotional health. This can lead to an inability to concentrate, sleep difficulties, daily focus, job loss, and even impact your relationships.
One way to combat both acute and chronic pain is through massage therapy. Here are three ways massage therapy can help reduce your pain.
Soothes muscles, tendons, and joints.
When pain becomes severe, it can feel as if there is little that can relieve the physical strain on your body. However, massage therapy has been scientifically-backed for decades as a proven way to reduce your pain for chronic conditions such as:
- Arthritis,
- Post-operative pain,
- Fibromyalgia,
- Low-back pain,
- and, Tension headaches
Whether done once, or through regularly scheduled sessions, massage therapy helps to relax muscle tissue which is important to reduce muscle spasms and contractions that increase inflammation and affect nearly all people suffering from chronic pain conditions.
Relieves Stress and Anxiety
Beyond the physical condition, chronic pain conditions are a leading cause of mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. In fact, while only about 7% of the general population suffers from major depression, that number increases to 62% of patients who suffer from fibromyalgia and those suffering from arthritis experience rates two to ten times higher than the general public.
Massage therapists practice a variety of massage styles from Swedish massages to deep tissue and will not only relieve tension impacting your muscles and joints but also helps to improve blood circulation, reduce physical strain, and promote a feeling of calm and relaxation by implementing a variety of oils, aromatherapy, and calming music.
Blocks nerve sensors to the brain
Several studies have shown that the physical interaction of massage therapy also reduces levels of cortisol (also known as your body’s primary stress hormone) while increasing levels of serotonin and dopamine which help to de-stress your body by blocking pain receptors in your nervous system in addition to aiding blood pressure and reducing heart rate which increases when experiencing stress.
By blocking pain receptors, your brain does not receive signals notifying it that there is an inflammation. Remember, pain is your brain’s way of notifying you that there is a problem in your body such as an injury or inflammation. By blocking the pain receptors your brain is less aware of the condition and therefore does not respond accordingly, and you are left with less pain.
Chronic pain can be debilitating at times, but finding the connection between massage therapy and pain management by reducing stress and relaxing your muscles, tendons, and joints sufferers of both acute and chronic pain can find relief. Visit iPain conditions page to research different pain symptoms.
by Krista Harper
