Don't wait till you need a massage!
Massage – Don’t Wait Until You Need It!
Are you the type of person who puts off getting a massage? Do you think that because nothing actually hurts, you don’t need to worry about it? Many people think the same way and then feel sorry for themselves with a painful back or an injury at the massage clinic.
Massage is terrific if you have an injury or are already in pain, but why wait until there’s something wrong before you take action? Massage can be part of your preventative therapy to stop aches and pains from developing into anything more serious.
Keep On Keeping On...
If you, like most of us, have to work for a living, looking after your back and the musculoskeletal system will save you and your employer a lot of stress and money. It’s frightening, but did you know that according to the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2010, a staggering thirty-one million Americans (In 2021, that number increased to a staggering 619 million.) say that they are dealing with the symptoms of low back pain at any one time, costing over $50 million in conventional medical treatments, worker’s compensation, and absence from work. (According to Corporate Wellness magazine: “Although the medical costs of back pain are significant, costs to lost productivity are even greater. Of the estimated $100 billion that lower back pain costs the United States annually, two-thirds is due to lost wages and lost productivity. This amounts to a considerable drag on companies and to the US economy as a whole.")
Why risk it when a study in 2011 proved that having regular lower back massages helped relieve the pain before it got to the stage where it needed medication or taking time off from work?
Stress-Busting Massage
Another cause of time off work is stress and/or anxiety, so you’ll be pleased to hear that a regular massage session can help you beat the build-up of stress and keep you calmer for longer. It’s well known that stress makes many conditions worse. Booking time out for regular massage therapy helps lower cortisol levels and increase happy hormones serotonin and dopamine. It really puts you in a better mood. On top of this, it’s also thought that because a deep tissue or Swedish massage, in particular, helps to get your lymph fluid moving, this type of massage can help boost your immunity. This means fewer coughs, colds, and illnesses, which is all good.
Beat the Pain of Inactivity
Most of us can’t help it, but the average American still sits for eight or nine hours daily. If your job means you have no choice but to sit at a wheel or desk, it will pull your shoulders forward and cause them to become rounded. This weakens your upper and lower back muscles, which is why you’ll feel pain in your upper body.
If you can get up and about regularly to do some exercise and team this with a regular massage, your posture will thank you for it, and you should reduce any pain you feel from sitting still for so long during working hours. (For instance, squats can help with your posture and even be done at your desk or during a break.)
Have we convinced you to make a massage part of your regular routine? Of course, it’s not all about preventing illness or relieving pain; having a massage is a deliciously comforting and beneficial therapy in itself, and many people book their regular massage therapy sessions just because they know they will spring off the massage table with a smile on their face, feeling amazing.
Did you learn something new today? Maybe you are saying to yourself this is all hitting home. I always regret not getting a massage sooner. Many of my clients report that they always look forward to their sessions when their appointment reminder pops up. If you are getting regular massages, your body will get so used to receiving a massage that it could start reminding you that it’s time.
That's all for this week! See you next week with another post!
