Massage therapy has many surprising benefits, including relaxing the mind, reducing stress, boosting concentration and improving sleep. Furthermore, massage therapy can relieve chronic pain and help you better cope with day-to-day tasks. If you suffer from chronic pain, you may benefit from receiving massage treatment.
At Movéo Sport and Rehabilitation Centre, our registered massage therapists are experienced and highly trained specialists who can design treatment plans according to your needs. They offer customized massage therapy treatment to help manage and alleviate your chronic pain.
To understand how massage can help reduce your chronic pain, let’s first discuss what that pain is.
What is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is pain that lasts for more than 12 weeks. It may feel sharp, dull, burning, or aching and can be caused by injuries or illnesses. Some common conditions that result in chronic pain include:
- Injury
- Post-surgical pain
- Nerve damage pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Endometriosis
Chronic pain causes your body to overcompensate and overwork. As a result, you may suffer from higher stress levels, tighter muscles, lost mobility, and trouble sleeping. Each of these issues can increase your physical and mental strain, which in turn intensifies your discomfort and keeps you trapped in a chronic pain cycle.
Massage therapy, however, reduces stress, relaxes muscles, and promotes general health and wellbeing, which results in relief from chronic pain.
How Does Massage Therapy Relieve Chronic Pain?
Massage therapy helps reduce chronic pain through several processes. The pressure and release of massage stimulate the body to reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) and increase serotonin and dopamine (mood stabilizer hormones). That’s one reason you feel so relaxed and content after a massage!
Chronic pain causes muscles in your body to tense, ache or reduce mobility. A registered massage therapist works with you to target these muscles, loosening them and improving your mobility. In turn, that also relieves pain.
Finally, massage relaxes your body and mind. Those who suffer from chronic pain often have difficulty falling asleep and getting proper rest. It can be challenging to get comfortable and sleep when you’re in pain. Massage helps you unwind and achieve a deeper, more rejuvenating sleep, allowing your body time to recover from stress and discomfort.
What Types of Massage Can Relieve Chronic Pain?
At Movéo Sport and Rehabilitation Centre, our registered massage therapists will work with you to develop a treatment plan best suited to your needs. We offer a variety of massage therapy options to relieve your chronic pain, such as:
- Swedish massage – Known as a ‘traditional’ massage, Swedish massage typically involves long strokes, pressure and kneading of muscles to relieve tension.
- Deep tissue massage – Deep tissue massages incorporate firm or intense pressure to help heavily knotted muscles relax.
- Trigger point massage – Trigger point massages are similar to deep tissues massages but focus on specific points of the body to alleviate pain.
- Myofascial release – Your fascia is a thin, flexible layer of connective tissue covering your muscles, nerves, and organs. During myofascial release, your massage therapist will target trigger points in your fascia to release pressure.
Book an Appointment Today
If you suffer from chronic pain and believe you could benefit from massage, book an appointment at Movéo today. Our registered massage therapists will create a treatment plan to reduce your pain and help you reach your wellness goals.