Massage therapy is very healing for the body. The gliding strokes used during massage increase circulation to the area, meaning increased healing and tissue regeneration. Massage also helps reduce pain in the body’s tissues and improves lymphatic drainage, which essentially means that it aids with speeding up the healing process from injury. In addition to these benefits of massage, physicians are prescribing massage therapy to help with an array of physical conditions. Here we discuss 5 physical conditions that massage therapy can help alleviate.

1. Muscle Strain

Muscle strains are a common diagnosis and reason for a massage referral. A muscle strain is the tearing of a muscle or tendon that connects muscle to bone. Common symptoms include pain, swelling, muscle spasms, and difficulty with moving the muscle. Massage helps reduce pain, relaxes the strained muscle, and brings improved circulation to the area, helping speed up the recovery process. Massage also helps reduce the formation of scar tissue which can form in the location of the strain.

2. Sciatica

Sciatic nerve pain is also another common diagnosis and reason for a massage referral. Sciatica is the impingement of the sciatic nerve, either by a bulged disc, bone spur, or tight muscle. Symptoms including radiating nerve pain down the low back, hip, glutes, and the back of the leg. Sciatic pain typically only effects one side at a time. Massage therapy can help with sciatica caused by tight muscles and can also help take pressure off of the muscles that are putting pressure on the bulged disc.

3. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the impingement of the median nerve of the arm. Symptoms include numbness and tingling in the arm and hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by an array of reasons such as wrist anatomy, health conditions, and tight muscles. Massage can help carpal tunnel syndrome cases where the tight muscles are sitting on the median nerve, effectively taking pressure off of it and increasing feeling in the arm and hand.

4. Headaches

Massage is very effective for certain headaches. Tension headaches are caused by tight, tense muscles and limited circulation in the area. Since massage helps relax muscles and improve circulation, tension headache sufferers report improved symptoms after work only a massage or two. Tight head, neck, and back muscles are the common culprits for tension headaches and are addressed during a massage therapy session.

5. Tendonitis

Tendonitis is where the tendons that connect muscle to bone become inflamed from injury or overuse. Symptoms include pain in the area and limited range of motion. Massage helps bring circulation to the injured tissues and helps reduce pain. Massage can also help improve overall range of motion in the area.

Overall, massage therapy is beneficial for helping treat a variety of physical conditions that involve injury of the soft tissues. Common conditions that massage therapy can help with are muscle strains, sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, and tendonitis (to name a few). Ballaura Wellness Spa specializes in helping you achieve wellness and healing. Call us at (360) 539-7726 to book your appointment today.