Tulsa Massage can benefit people with a wide range of health conditions. The frequency of massages depends on the goals of therapy and the individual’s needs.

Scientists have found that massage triggers the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes biochemical and emotional balance. It also increases available serotonin, which has positive effects on mood and emotions.

Massage has a number of benefits for your muscles. Physical touch stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which triggers the body’s rest and relaxation response. This causes the heart rate to slow down, breathing to deepen, and levels of stress hormones like cortisol to drop. The body is also stimulated to produce feel-good brain chemicals such as serotonin, which will leave you in a much better mood.

The increased blood flow that occurs during massage helps to flush out toxins from the muscles, which in turn can lead to improved flexibility and elasticity. This can help prevent injuries by decreasing the tensing of muscle fibres in response to pain and reducing the stiffness that often results from overuse.

Tight muscles are usually the result of high tension which can be caused by a variety of factors such as stress, poor posture, injury or overuse. Massage decreases high muscle tone by relaxing and elongating the soft tissue. The reduction of tension enables the muscles to move more freely which can help reduce the risk of injury as well as improving balance and posture.

Another way massage relieves tightness is by promoting the release of endorphins which are the body’s natural painkillers. It’s important to note that pain relief differs from person to person so it may take a few sessions before you see lasting results.

If you are experiencing a sore or strained muscle, it is best to wait 72 hours before attempting a massage. Massaging a new injury can increase inflammation and potentially cause further damage to the muscle tissue.

It’s also a good idea to dress comfortably for your session, as this will make the whole experience more enjoyable. Wearing loose, comfortable clothing will allow the therapist to focus more on the areas that need attention and will ensure you are comfortable throughout your treatment.

When it comes to the massage itself, the therapist will work to release the tension in the tight muscles by applying pressure and using different techniques. It’s important that you communicate with the therapist about any areas that are painful or uncomfortable so they can adjust the treatment accordingly.

Relieves Pain

Massage is the rubbing or kneading of the body’s soft tissues with hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearms or feet and is generally performed for the treatment of pain or muscle stress. Massage can help relieve pain by relaxing muscles, tendons and joints; stimulating nerves to block pain signals from reaching the brain; and releasing hormones that reduce stress and anxiety and increase relaxation.

Pain management is a growing concern for health care providers and it is essential that clinicians have tools in their tool bags to assist patients with pain reduction and recovery. While the mechanisms for pain relief are complex, the literature supports that massage is an effective method of reducing pain.

The science behind massage’s pain-relieving effects is based on a theory called the gate control theory of pain. The theory states that if a painful area is massaged, the nerve fibers that send pain messages to the brain will be stimulated, but other nerves will simultaneously send competing signals that inhibit the transmission of pain information. The resulting lowered pain threshold may also be due to the release of natural painkillers such as endorphins.

It is believed that massage improves blood circulation which helps with nutrient delivery and waste removal, reducing swelling and facilitating tissue healing. In addition, massage decreases inflammation and increases range of motion of stiff joints and muscles.

Another reason for the effectiveness of massage in reducing pain is that it activates the parasympathetic nervous system which shuts off the fight-or-flight response and allows your heart rate to slow, digestion to begin and you to relax. It’s this state that helps your body heal and recover faster from injury and disease.

While there is a wide variety of massage techniques, all types of massage can benefit the body by promoting overall health and flexibility and decreasing the need for pain medications. The different types of massage therapy include Swedish, which combines long strokes with gentle pressure, deep tissue massage which uses slower strokes with more concentrated pressure to target tight muscles and trigger points, sports massage which focuses on the specific movement patterns used in a particular sport and trigger point massage which targets those tender areas of the muscle that create referred pain in other parts of the body.

Relieves Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of fear or worry that can be triggered by almost anything. It’s a common feeling for many people and it can lead to long-term health issues like panic attacks, depression, heart disease, digestive problems and weight gain. People who suffer from anxiety often feel the need to find relief and try various methods. Massage is widely used as a complementary therapy for anxiety and is reported to help with a number of symptoms.

Several clinical trials have found that massage can decrease anxiety. Remedial massage reduces stress by releasing endorphins into the peripheral nervous system, which is responsible for relaying messages between the brain and the extremities. It is also believed that massage can reduce anxiety by calming the body’s natural fight-or-flight response. This is the body’s natural stress response that helps us to escape danger and can be activated by almost any event. Over time continued activation of this stress response can cause serious damage to the body and lead to anxiety disorders such as GAD.

Studies have shown that massage can lower heart rate and blood pressure, thereby decreasing levels of cortisol which is a stress hormone. It also reduces muscle tension and increases range of motion. In addition, it can help to clear metabolic waste by stimulating the lymphatic system which is responsible for removing waste from the muscles and soft tissue.

Other forms of massage such as Chinese massage and reflexology use acupressure points to stimulate the body’s ability to self-heal. These points can be easily located and are called “trigger” points. They are usually located in the shoulders, back and feet but can be found throughout the body. Chinese massage combines the push-pull techniques of remedial massage with a pinching and pressing method similar to reflexology to activate these points.

Another popular calming massage is yoga. The practice of yoga is a holistic approach to well-being that involves breathing, meditation and physical postures. In one study, participants who regularly attended two weekly yoga classes experienced a 30 percent reduction in their anxiety and stress.

Relieves Insomnia

Sleeping is an essential part of life, but many people struggle to get the restful slumber they deserve. If you suffer from insomnia or other sleep disorders, massage can provide the relief you need to get your restful nights back. Massage can significantly improve sleep, even for those without pre-existing conditions that affect sleep, and can be especially helpful for people who have chronic insomnia or a long history of poor sleep habits.

Research suggests that the calming effects of massage can help treat insomnia by reducing anxiety and stress, easing muscle tension and improving overall body relaxation. Studies also show that massage decreases levels of the stress hormone cortisol and increases serotonin, a chemical that promotes relaxation and produces the sleep-inducing chemical melatonin.

Researchers found that therapeutic massage significantly improved subjective sleep disturbances in postmenopausal women. Specifically, they discovered that massage decreased insomnia and other menopausal symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and fatigue and suppressed arousal and agitation in the participants. The study did have some limitations, including the lack of a control group, and it would be worthwhile to see if future studies could find similar results with a control group in order to confirm these findings.

Massage may not cure insomnia or other sleep disorders, but it is an excellent complementary therapy. Regular massage can help relieve sleep problems over time, and it is recommended that patients keep up with a routine of regular massage sessions to help prevent recurring insomnia or other sleep issues. Other ways to encourage better sleep include avoiding caffeine and alcohol, using dim lighting in the bedroom, keeping a regular schedule of sleeping and waking times, and practicing self-massage at home.

To get the most benefit from your massage for insomnia, try to book an appointment with a specialist who will take into account your specific needs and your pre-existing conditions. For those who struggle with insomnia, a deep tissue massage might be ideal as it targets deeper layers of muscles that may have knotted up and are contributing to your insomnia. You can also ask the therapist to use soothing, calming techniques and avoid vibration, percussive or friction massage strokes, as these can be too stimulating.