A massive benefit from massage therapy is stress relief. Stress affects us both physically and mentally.  Our muscles can become tense after an injury or overuse such as postural strain to the point where it can cause pain, however, a relaxing massage may be what is needed to help return the muscles and our minds to a more relaxed place. 

Many will know that stress can be so detrimental to both mental and physical health. Long term stress increases a hormone called cortisol, which in turn may increase anxiety, depression, and pain especially when it has been elevated for a prolonged period of time. If you’re experiencing some of these symptoms, you might want to consider stress relief massage therapy in Gosforth. 

Our massage therapists at Osteopathy and Therapy have the repertoire of techniques necessary for you to reduce stress through massage that will help relieve your symptoms of stress, helping you to  bring about a sense of relaxation,  helping reduce  pains or injuries from muscle tension while also improving your mood through the activation of endorphins which are released from the power of therapeutic touch.

How Massage Therapy Relieves Stress

As we have mentioned, massage therapy is a means of reducing stress and has been shown to be effective on physical as well as psychological levels through the release of endorphins.

There are other mechanisms which can help improve our wellbeing too – for example, when we deal with our chronic stress we can also improve our immune system, as prolonged release of cortisol can in fact decrease this function meaning we may experience more colds and bugs than normal.  As massage also improves blood and lymphatic flow, then you will also notice that your muscles will feel softer and any inflammation will be reduced especially where this is from injuries.  

What is Massage and its Basics?

You might have heard of massage as a form of relaxation, but did you know it’s also used to help relieve pain and tension? It can also promote healthy skin by stimulating circulation. There are many different types too!

Swedish Massage

The best way to describe this massage is by comparing the experience to a deep tissue form of therapy. The therapist will typically use their hands and forearms within long sweeping  strokes and kneading motions to help you to feel more relaxed- it’s time to take your mental health seriously!

Health Benefits of Swedish Massage

Swedish massage is famous for reducing stress and soothing tight muscles. It also offers many other health benefits such as:

• Easing muscle strain and flushing out toxins.
• Easing back pain and chronic pain from muscular sources..
• Can help ease emotional and physical stress.
• Helping to  improve the range of motion of your joints.
• Improving blood circulation and lymphatic flow throughout the body.

Sports Massage

If you are an athlete or involved in some other sporty activity that puts your body under a lot of stress and wear and tear then this may be the massage for you. Whilst Swedish Massage can help with injuries, it’s not as deep as a sports massage, because when it comes to sports-related strains and pains the level of treatment needed to relax the tight muscles can be much more than just for a postural problem.  

Health Benefits of Sports Massage

Sports massage techniques can help the recipient feel invigorated, elated, relieved of pain in various parts of their body. Here are its health benefits:

• Increased range of motion, leading to enhanced performance.
• Reduction in muscle tension, muscular pain, and discomfort.
• Reduced recovery time post-injury.
• Decreased muscle stiffness and soreness after exercise or physical activity.

Trigger Point Massage

This massage focuses on areas of tight muscle fibres called trigger points which can form in your muscles after injuries or overuse. When these tight knots are released, it helps to relieve  tension and increase circulation, which will make you feel refreshed!

Health Benefits of Trigger Point Massage

With a trigger point, you can experience both symptoms and pain in other parts of the body. For instance, if your lower back is suffering from spasms that are causing neck pain.

• Can decrease headaches.
• Help alleviate Pain.
• Help improve flexibility and range of motion.
• Can help improve posture.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is a more intense form of a traditional Swedish massage, and more similar to a sports massage. The techniques work on the  deeper layers, targeting muscle fibres in order to help with injury recovery time and relaxation.

Health Benefits of Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage can provide many benefits for a variety of conditions, including injuries and chronic pain. Here are its health benefits:

• Can help reduce muscular pain and tension.
• Relaxation can help reduce high blood Pressure.
• Helps promote recovery after injury.
• Great for postural tension and pain.

Massage Techniques that Reduce Stress

There are many techniques which reduce stress using during a massage. The most common techniques include:

Depth of pressure

This can be very light or a medium pressure for a more relaxing massage, or the techniques tend to work more deeply when choosing deep tissue or sports massage.

Effleurage

This is a long sweeping technique which is incredibly relaxing and is often used at the beginning or the end of a massage or to connect movements.  

Petrissage 

This includes the kneading movements which are often associated with massages.  This can be a pressure to suit the client and what is needed to make a change to the tissues.

Trigger Point Work

Trigger points are a common problem for many people and can be easily treated. Trigger point therapy is an effective technique that helps to relieve pain in muscles and tightness caused by a specific muscle knot called trigger points.

Acute trauma or overuse of the muscle fibres could lead to strain – leading to these muscular knots known as trigger points.

Lymphatic Drainage

Lymphatic drainage is a massage technique that helps to remove waste products from the body. It’s part of your circulatory system, which includes vessels made up of lymph fluid called lymph, and takes it towards the heart. 

Lymph flows through the body in only one direction, as it doesn’t have a pump.  After injury or surgery, lymphatic drainage can be used to reduce swelling and oedema.

Reasons Why Massage Is Perfect for Stress Relief

Massage is the Perfect Way to Lift Your Mood

Stress is something that affects everyone. It can have a negative effect on your mood, and you may find yourself feeling anxious or depressed during times of high stress. Stress also leaves people with little time to rest which makes it hard for them to focus or get things done.

They just feel overwhelmed! When all seems lost, the answer might be found in some downtime: try out one of the most relaxing ways to let your daily stress simply disappear – getting a massage today!

Massage Therapy Aids Chronic Illness and Injury

It’s no surprise that massage therapy is effective. The soothing touch of a massage therapist can reduce stress, pain, and inflammation in the body by increasing blood flow to muscles through gentle manipulations!

It has been shown to be helpful for many conditions including joint disorders, soft tissue injuries like sprains or strains as well as digestive problems such as constipation.

Stress Affects More Than Just Your Mind

The research has shown that stress affects every part of the body, and when one carries too much tension it can lead to muscle stiffness or pain. But what you may not realize is that there are other symptoms as well: headaches, fatigue, stomach problems, and difficulty sleeping. Our massage sessions help alleviate these things by providing a relaxing experience for your body and mind.

It Leads to A Healthy Heart

Regular massage therapy has been shown to be a great tool for lowering blood pressure and heart rate, hence it may reduce the strain on your circulatory system. Whether you’re working towards being healthier or trying to stay in shape, using regular massages is an excellent way of reaching your fitness goals!

Overall Benefits of Massage

Massage therapy is great for the mind, body, and soul. It’s been shown to be beneficial in helping to treat a range of conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system. The benefits of massage therapy include:

• Improve immune system.
• Improving circulation, energy, and alertness.
• Reduce stress and increase relaxation.
• Can lower heart rate and blood pressure.
• Reduce pain, muscle soreness, and tension.

Massage therapy has been shown to be helpful for a wide range of problems, including:

• Upper back and neck pain
• Anxiety
• Sports injuries
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches
• Soft tissue strains or injuries
• Low back pain
• Myofascial pain syndrome
• Improving sleep related to stress

Massage therapy is an ancient practice that has been used for centuries to help treat various conditions.

There are many ways to release stress through massage including deep tissue, Swedish and therapeutic massages. Deep tissue, trigger points, lymphatic drainage can all be used at different stages of the session for a more effective treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Sensing the tension in your body? Massages can relieve stress and promote relaxation. At Osteopathy & Therapy, our massage therapists reduce stress through various types of massages including Swedish and deep tissue, aromatherapy and sports massage to help alleviate pain.

Book an appointment today and help to feel that tension melt away!