When it comes to massage Great Barrington communities are learning that it is perhaps the only form of relaxation that doubles as a form of treatment as well. And whether you receive massage from a spa or a chiropractor’s clinic, the underlying principles are pretty much all the same.
The practice has been around for thousands of years, and the techniques initially started out as a form of medical treatment to alleviate common aches and pains. Fast-forward to modern times, and we use massage techniques for a wider array of treatments.
Boosting The Effectiveness Of Massage
One of the best things about a massage is that it can be combined with other relaxation techniques to boost its effectiveness, and aromatherapy happens to be one of the techniques that go hand-in-hand with a massage treatment.
Since aromatherapy involves the use of essential oils to improve one’s physical and mental well-being, combining it with massage techniques gives rise to a wide variety of health benefits. Aromatherapy can be integrated into these sessions through a myriad of ways.
1. The oil can be poured atop lit burners so that its scent stimulates the emotional center of the brain as the patient enjoys the aroma.
2. Some essential oils can be directly applied on the skin so that they can be absorbed by the body and promote full body healing via the bloodstream.
3. Topical applications of essential oils can also alleviate muscle aches and pains.
It’s important to keep in mind when integrating aromatherapy oils into the massage treatment is to perform a patch test to ensure no one is allergic to the chosen essential oil.
Relieving Tension, Aches And Pains
Most people experience muscle and joint pains as a result of activities they engage in, or fatigue and strain, or poor body posture. Every day activities such as working in front of a computer all day or standing on your feet for extended periods of time can cause discomfort. Recurrent activities place stress on tissues, tendons and ligaments, and can lead to long-term aches and pains, but they can be resolved.
Massage therapist Great Barrington use techniques on certain “trigger points” to release tension and soothe the tissues in the body. They feel like knots within a muscle and are tight or painful when pressed. These knots are actually constricted areas that appear small and thickened within the muscle fiber. They also stimulate the release of chemicals that promote pain.
Range of motion becomes limited because of the tension and pain, and surrounding muscle groups can be also be affected. Applying some force from strategic angles offers the body relief. The muscles become relaxed, pliable and soft when touched, and you can engage in activities again.
Researchers say that massage is the simplest and cheapest form of pain relief, not to mention, it’s typically the most effective because it works to relieve the problem.
