Massage & Aging

 

There are many reasons to get a massage…to relax, relieve muscle tension or pain, improve athletic performance, or sleep better. But did you know that massage can support healthy aging?

 

At this point I think we have all come to understand that stress is hard on the body and can accelerate the aging process. Regular massage supports stress reduction by lowering cortisol levels (cortisol is the stress hormone), and promoting relaxation and emotional well-being. 

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Another challenge of aging is reduced circulation. Massage improves circulation by stimulating blood flow, and delivering oxygen and essential nutrients to our tissues. This increased circulation enhances healing and improves our overall vitality.

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As we age we all live in fear of falling and becoming less active due to limited mobility. Massage releases muscle tension and improves range of motion in our joints, thus enhancing our flexibility, mobility, and balance.

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Massage helps with pain management as it promotes the release of endorphins, the body's natural pain killers, helping to alleviate chronic pain and discomfort. 

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Increased difficulty sleeping is often a symptom of aging. Massage promotes relaxation and can help regulate the parasympathetic nervous system, making it easier for us to fall asleep and stay asleep. 

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Massage also helps to boost our immune system as we age by stimulating the lymphatic system, and aiding in waste removal. 

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And finally, and perhaps most importantly, massage can support our long-term emotional well-being. The physical touch of massage can provide comfort and connection, something that is often lacking for seniors who have become isolated. Massage can also help improve our mood by promoting the release of dopamine and serotonin.

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So, what’s the real message here? If you want to stay vital and active, and have a strong relaxation response instead of a strong stress response, start getting regular massages now.

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Massage & Text Neck

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Did you know there’s something called “text neck?” It’s a term used to describe the effect on our neck and shoulders of too much cell phone use. Addressing this stiffness or pain is important not only for short term relief, but also to help prevent the development of  long-term neck, shoulder, and posture problems. 

 

We can address text neck in a number of ways: use our phones less, be conscious of our posture while we are using them, and do regular stretches to address the discomfort.

 

Massage is another great way to address text neck. It not only relieves the pain and discomfort of cell phone use, but other issues that negatively affect our neck, shoulders, and upper body.

 

Massage relieves pain in the neck and shoulders by relaxing the muscles thereby helping to prevent painful muscular spasms. Massage also improves blood circulation, sending more oxygen to the muscles and reducing discomfort, swelling, and inflammation.

 

Migraines and stress headaches also contribute to neck and shoulder pain. And massage can minimize or eliminate headache pain and the muscle tension in surrounding areas exacerbated by the headaches.

 

I don’t know about you, but when I’m stressed or anxious I hold all of my tension in my neck, shoulders, and upper back. Tension which then leads to bigger issues such as headaches and migraines, or back pain. Relaxing these muscles through massage not only resets our bodies, but also our minds, which then helps us to feel better able to cope with whatever is causing our stress and anxiety. And remember, a stressed out body is less able to keep up its immune defenses, so regular massage that keeps our bodies relaxed, and our immunity strong, can only be a good thing.

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