Touch and massage therapy are much more than just a feel-good way to be nice to people and pamper yourself. There is a body of research that shows they can achieve personal and health benefits. After an injury, such as a sports injury or accident, physiotherapy can help with the rehabilitation process, promoting healing and restoring strength and mobility.
Touch can be provided in different ways, such as a hand placed on the shoulder, reassuring pat on the back or a hug. The benefits include people shop and buy more when touched by staff who greet them at the door, strangers are more likely to help someone if touch accompanies a request and improved performance at work or in a team.
There are many types of massage provided as forms of treatment. They vary in terms of the amounts of pressure that can be applied to the skin, from light to heavy and also the associated reasoning behind them, such as Shiatsu, where the touch relates to energy flow.
Research shows that people with specific medical conditions can be helped with massage therapy treatment including;
* premature babies
* older-aged people with dementia (loss of memory)
* people with anxiety, depression, chronic pain
* immune system conditions such as HIV/AIDS.
How the benefits of touch and massage are achieved is still not fully understood. Massage for premature babies, for example, is believed to help with weight gain, by increasing metabolism and reducing stress. It’s also suggested that stress reduction may increase positive hormones such as oxytocin, the hormone that promotes bonding and improves mood.
If you’re constantly on the go, finding the time to visit a massage parlour can be challenging. That’s where a mobile massage comes in.
You may also speak to your GP, particularly to make sure massage is recommended for your specific condition and to help find a suitable massage therapist. This is because sometimes back pain can be relived with massages due to the source of the pain being the muscles, but in some cases a spinal decompression is the actual solution. Make sure you assess beforehand the source of your pain or injury, and the best way to fully recover from it.