By:  Allison Hoit

Massage therapy, though often considered a “luxury,” is actually a complementary therapy that can be included in your wellness regimen. As a personal supporter for regular massage therapy, I have seen the benefits first-hand from stress reduction to muscle recovery post-exercise. I also suffer from mild scoliosis causing lower back pain; massage therapy has been a valuable tool in my pain management plan. Massage is used for a variety of health-related purposes including pain management, sport rehabilitation, stress reduction, relaxation, headache relief, and many more.  The term “massage therapy” includes several techniques to manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues, enhancing their function and resulting in a holistic approach to managing secondary conditions.  Some examples of the benefits of massage therapy in managing secondary conditions are as follows:

• Proven to relieve pain, also decreasing the need for pain medication
• Reduces trait anxiety or depression by promoting general relaxation
• May temporarily reduce blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar levels
• Improves quality of sleep associated with insomnia or other sleep disorders
• Relieves chronic low back pain when combined with education and exercise
• Increases circulation in the lymphatic and venous systems
• Aids in the identification, reduction, and prevention of scar tissue
• Improves mobility and range of motion associated with muscle tension, illness, or injury

When used in addition to your physical activity and exercise training plan, massage therapy can be a successful tool in achieving your health and fitness goals. Strength training causes small tears in your muscles which then allow your muscles to rebuild, achieving strength and definition. This is why a rest day is necessary in between strength training days; however, a post-exercise massage can also aid in muscle recovery.  In addition to small tears in the muscle fibers, the body also accumulates lactic acid during exercise training which can contribute to DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) and early fatigue during exercise. Massage therapy post-exercise will help to break up the lactic acid and improve circulation, thus relieving tight or sore muscles and increasing flexibility/range of motion for a more effective exercise performance. Try a deep-tissue, sports, or trigger-point massage for aiding in post-exercise recovery.