If you’re tired of relying on painkillers for your chronic muscle pain, how about trying to address all that pain at the roots? Massage therapy can help with that, but knowing what type of bodywork to get is equally important. Learn more at https://www.madisonbetterbody.com/
Not all pain is entirely bad. For example, muscle soreness from an intense workout is a mark of your grind and, quite frankly, feels pretty great when you consider how hard you’ve worked. But when pain persists for days, weeks, months, or even years on end, that’s when you know you have a problem - if that pain isn’t already making you miss out on work or activities that you find fun.
Your first instinct may be to turn to pain medication, but that only masks your symptoms. Wouldn’t it be better to get rid of the root cause of your pain altogether? Massage therapy can do just that, but which type of massage therapy should you get? It all depends on the ailment you’re struggling with.
According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), nearly 21% of the U.S. population, an equivalent of 51.6 million adults, lives with chronic pain, which is defined as pain lasting for more than three months.
Lower back pain is among the most common forms of chronic pain, and it is one of the leading causes of disability in the country; shoulder pain and neck pain are also prevalent among individuals who suffer from musculoskeletal issues, often resulting in loss of productivity and heightened absenteeism.
Although over-the-counter painkillers are often prescribed for chronic muscle pain, many experts in the medical community believe that massage therapy is a viable non-invasive alternative. Massage has been shown to alleviate lower back pain, improve range of motion, exercise weak or atrophied muscles, and improve circulation.
Beyond relief from pain and stiffness, studies have found that massage therapy can also stimulate the release of endorphins, enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow, reduce overall stress levels, and remove toxins from the muscles, addressing the many root causes of chronic muscle pain and leading to more sustained improvements to physical wellness. That means you’ll rely less on your painkillers and spend more time just feeling better in general.
“Our society’s medical culture has trained us to fix problems rather than prevent them. Massage therapy can help with a lot of those problems, but it’s also effective at preventing them in the first place,” says Kaitlin Rohowetz, founder of A Better Body, a wellness center that specializes in therapeutic bodywork.
If you’re looking into massage therapy, you’re bound to come across two terms: Swedish massage and deep tissue massage. These are the most common forms of therapeutic bodywork, and they’re what most places will offer you.
Swedish massage is what people usually imagine when they think of massage therapy: your therapist will work on your body with long strokes, kneading hand movements, and rhythmic taps. This is the less intense choice of the two, and it’s generally better if you just want to relax and relieve some stress.
Deep tissue massage is quite similar, though there’s one major difference: the pressure that your therapist will apply is much harder, as this technique is intended to target soreness or knots that are deeper in your muscle layers.
So, which one is better for you? There’s no right answer. It all depends on what your body needs.
Most wellness centers offer massage therapy, but before you book your first appointment, make sure the people you’re working with are trained professionals. As with any business, you can check customer testimonials to get a better idea of how good the establishment is.
If you want extra pampering, some places, like A Better Body, offer hot stones, cupping, and aromatherapy for additional pain relief and relaxation; other services, including hydrating hand masks, exfoliating foot scrubs, and peppermint scalp treatment, are also available as add-ons.
No matter what you choose, even just one appointment with a massage therapist will have you feeling loosened up. So if you’re tired of all that pain and stiffness, consider scheduling an appointment today. A Better Body City: Madison Address: 6515 Grand Teton Plaza, Suite 145, Website: https://www.madisonbetterbody.com