3 surprising benefits of massage therapy

Beyond leaving you calm and relaxed, there’s a host of positives from having a regular massage. We look at some lesser-known benefits.

Massages are one of life’s luxuries that are – but shouldn’t be – treated as an indulgence. The benefits of massage therapy go well beyond the immediate relaxation they offer (although there’s nothing wrong with that), and for many people, regular treatments can affect their health and wellbeing in far-reaching ways.

Here, we look at three of the more surprising ways that massage therapy can impact your life. Best of all, AIA Vitality members receive discounts of up to 50 per cent off up to four endota spa voucher purchases each membership year.

Anxiety is a response to perceived threats or challenges. Although its primitive function is to protect us from danger, anxiety can also become problematic and hinder our overall wellbeing.

Massage lowers your body’s levels of stress hormones, and studies have demonstrated that it is effective in reducing symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder as a complementary or alternative medical treatment.

Similarly, stress can affect your sleep. In some cases massage therapy is known to treat insomnia – something that affects around one-third of Australians at some point over their lives.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that affects various muscles, leaving people feeling tender and fatigued. Nobody knows the cause of this condition, which affects up to five per cent of Australians – mostly adult women.

A 2014 meta-analysis of nine available randomised control tests points to a common theme: regular massage therapy, when practised longer than five weeks, can be effective in treating the pain, anxiety, and depression associated with fibromyalgia.

Almost five million Australians report suffering from migraines, costing the Australian economy approximately $35 billion per year. Symptoms can include sensitivity to light, nausea, and vomiting – in addition to severe pain.

While there is no cure for migraines, research has demonstrated that neck massage can help reduce migraine-related pain symptoms. While the study’s sample size was small, it shows great promise for further research.

Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.

Disclaimer:
The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional, tax or other advice. It does not take into account any individual’s personal situation or needs. You should consider obtaining professional advice from a financial adviser and/or tax specialist, or medical or health practitioner, in relation to your own circumstances and before acting on this information.