In today’s busy world, it is often a bit difficult to find the time to relax. And for some people, when they do find the time to attempt to relax, they are not quite sure how to do it, as we are so trained to be on the go at all times. On top of that, everyone is wired differently, so while one person finds a nice long run to be relaxing, another person might find that to be an added stressor. Another individual might find relief by simply sitting and listening to music, while someone else who attempts the same activity would become restless, bored or distracted. One thing that is almost guaranteed to help you relax, and will be good for those muscle aches and pains as well, is a good massage.

Getting rid of those pesky muscle aches and pains

It is no secret that not only do the current demands and expectations of our society make it difficult to relax, but they add physical stress as well. You may not think that you are overexerting yourself, but those muscle aches and pains tell a different story. You do not have to be performing feats of strength or hard physical labor to feel some pain. Sometimes sitting at a keyboard typing all day is enough to cause cramping or stiff muscles. Either way, don’t forget to take care of your body. There are many different massage techniques for you to try out on the path to finding the perfect massage, so don’t be discouraged if your first massage leaves you feeling unimpressed or unconvinced.

Medical massage and the benefits of massage therapy

As about 92% of people surveyed can agree on the fact that getting a massage is an effective solution to reducing muscle aches and pains, there is actually quite a bit more to getting a massage than just for the sake of relaxation. Medical massage is used in many facilities as a type of therapy, and one survey conducted by the American Hospital Association of over 1,000 hospitals showed that about 82% of those that offered complementary and alternative medicine did include a massage therapy of some sort in the available health care treatments.

Over the span of one year, 54% of adults who got a massage in the United States did so for medical purposes or health reasons. There are numerous health benefits of therapeutic massages, including relief from stiffness, spasms and soreness, rehabilitation after an injury, pain management, and even for overall wellness and stress relief. In addition, one study published in the International Journal of Preventative Medicine showed that massage therapy can help to effectively control blood pressure in pre-hypertensive women. Blood pressure is lowered immediately, and that result can last for as long as 72 hours after the massage.

The varied applications of massage

There are numerous reasons why getting a massage is a great idea, whether you need some time to yourself to relax and forget the stresses of the world, or you are using massage therapy for pain. It is a vital component of many types of physical therapy, and those recovering from a serious injury or long illness will often need it the most. Deep tissue massage therapy is the answer for some people, while others, such as athletes look for something more specialized, like a sports massage for particularly sore or overworked muscles. Sure, you could get a friend or a spouse to give you a quick massage in the hopes of catching a bit of relief, but if you are looking for real results, your best bet is to find someone who is trained to seek out those knots and relieve you of them.