The Pain-Relieving Power of Massage

When a person is in pain, it dominates their life. The only thing that can help is finding relief for that pain, either a permanent solution or, at the very least, a temporary solution. Massage can be a useful tool in fighting off pain, especially for minor and nagging aches.

So How Does Massage Fight Pain?

Massage helps the body battle pain in a number of ways. First, massage helps increase blood flow to stiff joins and sore muscles. The extra circulation warms these areas, helping them heal faster, but also feel less pain at that time.

Massage also helps release natural painkillers into the brain. Massage releases oxytocin, a hormone that relaxes muscles and encourages feelings of calmness and contentment. The person immediately feels better and more relaxed, so feelings of pain either feel less intense or go away completely.

Finally, massage may change the way a brain sense pain. The sharp sensation of a good massage can make the brain simply forget about other aches and pains. While the pain doesn't immediately go away, it changes the brains focus to things that feel better.

How Effective is Massage?

Massage is great at helping pain in the short term. People immediately feel better thanks to the release of hormones. Regular massages can promote general good health and starve off nagging aches and pains that normally occur in people.

For more serious pain, people should see their doctor for other remedies. Massage can many times be a great addition to other pain management treatment plans. Talk to your doctor to see if massage can be beneficial to whatever other treatments you may undergo.

More than anything, massage helps people feel better. Pain can be difficult to live with, but massage can help reduce its effects and promote a general overall healthy lifestyle.