Why get a massage?
Because it feels really, really good.
No, seriously, that’s a very good reason!
According to the Mayo Clinic, the main benefits of getting a massage are: reducing stress or increasing relaxation; reducing muscle soreness and tension; improving circulation, energy and alertness; lowering heart rate and blood pressure; and improving immune function. The American Massage Therapy Association details twenty five specific reasons people choose massage, including a few which do not fit into the Mayo Clinic’s broad categories. Some people choose massage to enhance sports performance, for others it is to decrease the pain of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Cancer patients use massage to reduce stress and anxiety, and to reduce the nausea associated with chemotherapy. Massage is often used as part of an integrated therapeutic program, supporting and enhancing other therapies, but it is also chosen for its standalone benefits. And many choose a massage because it just feels so good!
Recent advances in massage therapy
This 2015 paper in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences provides a review of the scientific evidence for massage therapy’s effectiveness and gives many good and, importantly, credible reasons for seeking massage. Manual lymphatic drainage, a technique developed in the 1930s, shows benefits reducing post-operative pain and swelling, as well as improving quality of life of patients with fibromyalgia. Of particular relevance to sports massage, multiple studies cited in the review have shown massage reduces the volume of ‘pro-inflammatory products like cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules.’
While there is nothing to suggest that massage cures cancer, as suggested by the AMTA and noted above, massage can support cancer therapies, reducing nausea, pain, anxiety, and depression. And massage’s improvement to patients’ psychological condition is not limited to cancer sufferers. One randomised control trial involving depressed pregnant women found that massage reduced anxiety and depression, and multiple studies have shown a link between even a single massage session and reduction in anger, stress, and tension headaches.
Massage has also been shown to be very effective with various maladies of the joints, reducing the pain of arthritis and improving the range of motion and strength at the limits of the range. The effects of various spinal injuries and diseases have been shown to have been alleviated by massage. And the same is true for the very common ailment of frozen shoulder: massage supports improvements in strength, range of motion, and a reduction in pain.
Contraindications, or: when should I not get a massage?
Despite the safety of massage and the lack of risk associated with massage therapy, not everyone in every situation should get massage therapy. In particular, those with skin problems need to be especially aware of them and how they might affect their comfort during the massage. In particular, any cuts, burns, or broken skin should be avoided during the treatment, and any broken bones or bruises should be treated with special care and delicacy. That’s not to say you can’t get a massage but please do make your therapist aware before you book so they can plan appropriately. And don’t be offended if they say that it’s not a good time to get a massage. We have your best interests at heart.
Other systemic conditions also need to be considered carefully in case a treatment should exacerbate them, or put the therapist at risk. We always take care to check if you’re suffering from anything contagious, and we’ll always reschedule the session, or refund you if we can’t find a good alternative time. And while we have seen great benefits for with cancer and those suffering hypertension, if this is you then you should only seek treatment after speaking to your GP. And always look for a therapist who specialises in supporting these conditions with massage.
But in general, massage is very safe and carries very low risk. Please get in touch and discuss if you’re at all worried about getting a massage, and I’ll happily talk you through the process and discuss any risks and contraindications so that you can make an informed decision, including your GP if that’s advisable.