With so many ideas and beliefs held around massage it seems today, more than ever, we need clarification on the benefits of massage. The practice of massage has been documented as a form of medicine as far back as the ancients in Egypt – but this is something seemingly forgotten by clinicians or those focused on the idea that invasive procedures are required for results.
The idea of massage being a “luxury” or indulgence is one of the worst myths surrounding this practice. It is an effective way of increasing blood flow, stretching out tight muscle fibres which can form adhesions in the muscle tissue (those “knots” felt most commonly around the neck and shoulders), repairing muscle tears post exercise, assisting in lymphatic drainage, and promoting a sense of well-being through the release of the “feel good” chemical oxytocin.
Further benefits are experienced through the chain reaction of regular massage. These include, but are by no means limited to: improved immunity, better digestion, improved mental clarity and health, faster healing processes, better posture, less muscular and joint pain (sometimes reduced to full remission of pain!), reduction in cellulite and other epidermal issues, and general improved mood and sense of better health.
So massage isn’t just for athletes? Absolutely not! Yes, it is true that athletes benefit from post-exercise massage more than those who don’t exercise as much. This is purely because often we experience pain when we push our bodies physically, the same as when we work ourselves too hard whichever way. This pain, until fairly recently, has been considered to be from the build up of a muscle waste product – lactic acid. This is now known to be not strictly speaking true; what is actually happening, alongside all the body’s other processes during physical exercise, is that as the muscles are being worked hard they often stretch and pull, creating tiny tears in the muscle fibres, and this is what is causing the pain. Lactic acid burn – I don’t think the scientists are quite 100% agreed yet as to whether it occurs yet!
Massage is not just a science, it’s an art. It is of the utmost importance that we get the right solution for ourselves when it comes to our health, as individuals, by the right practitioners at the right time. That’s why you will find that, here at Pinnacle Health Group, we only provide the services that are right for you, once you have done the right assessment. The beauty of massage is it is an art that can be tailored to the individual, ensuring you get the best possible outcome from the treatment. The precision of this tailored treatment means that you will get the best possible, scientifically proven results. Your body will give you this as feedback and our expert practitioners will guide you through what this feedback means!
So you see, you don’t have to be super fit or in bad shape to benefit from a massage. Any time is a good time for a massage, as it will more likely than not improve your day today and make tomorrow a whole lot better too. For the qualified Massage Therapists you know you can trust, book an appointment with Pinnacle Health Group in Melbourne CBD or Docklands.