Massage therapy is a wonderful way to relieve stress and muscle tension but it also helps with certain physical issues which happen as our bodies age.
Our joints naturally become stiffer over time and our muscles lose strength which can cause discomfort during activity. Alongside stress, fatigue or other chronic health conditions associated with aging, this can make it difficult to keep up with the physical activities we previously enjoyed.
Staying physically active and exercising regularly is absolutely vital to keep our joints well nourished, maintain flexibility and balance, improve sleep quality and maintain independence. However, this is easier said than done if your joints ache or feel stiff and uncomfortable and as an experienced clinical massage therapist, this is where I can help!
What are the benefits of massage therapy?
You can’t massage strength back into your body but releasing muscle tension, relieving pain, increasing joint mobility and getting a better night’s sleep can make a world of difference to how you feel in your body. Feeling better and moving more comfortably makes it more likely that you’ll want to resume physical activities which help with strength and mobility like walking your dog or attending an exercise class.
Over the age of 50 and beyond, we also tend to recover slower from injury or surgery. So remedial massage can be a useful tool to enhance your recovery. Not only does it reduce pain and swelling but it supports the natural healing process through better circulation. Additionally, some massage therapists have additional training in scar tissue therapy and techniques to improve the healing and appearance of scars and to reduce adhesions and to improve scar mobility.
Getting the most out of your massage
Please don’t worry if you have problems lying on your front, feel uncomfortable remaining in any position for a long time or worry about being able to get on and off our treatment bed. We have a special massage seat if you prefer to be massaged while sitting. You can also be massaged on your side and we have an electric heated pad which can be turned on during your massage to relieve joint pain.
It’s also important to communicate with your therapist about the level of pressure you like throughout your treatment. There’s absolutely no evidence that massage has to hurt to be helpful and lighter pressures can be more helpful for some conditions. So speak up, drink plenty of water and take a hot shower after your massage to get the most out of it.
Once you’re moving more comfortably from your massage, I always recommend other activities like weight training or Pilates to improve muscle mass, maintain bone density, improve joint mobility and flexibility.
The benefits of massage are best understood by firsthand experience. So please give us a call if you would like to talk in more detail about how massage could be used to help you specifically.
This blog was written by Fran Ammann. Fran is an experienced Remedial Therapist and Clinical Pilates Instructor who works with adults of all ages. She enjoys the combination of using hands on techniques to relieve pain and Pilates to improve movement and build strength.