Although there are drugs available from your doctor for just about any ache, pain or symptom you may have, many seniors are turning to alternative medicine to help maintain their health. One of these wonderful alternative therapies is body massage. Massaging restores seniors get up and go and the senior health benefits are nothing short of amazing. Keep in mind, this is massage therapy on a regular basis and it is a cumulative process.
Not Just For The Housewives of Beverly Hills
Massages are not just for the pampered and rich and spas are not the only place to receive a therapeutic massage. For many senior people, massage has a negative connotation – a throwback to the massage parlors of the early 20th century. The truth is message has become a mainstream alternative therapy that helps millions of people, including seniors, every day.
The number of Americans age 65 and older is growing at an increasing rate, with approximately 2,000 crossing the threshold every day. As this demographic continues to grow, the health care system attempts to keep pace with their needs. Drugs are the most common approach from the allopathic community, but there are a growing number of seniors who are seeking ways to improve their health without drugs.
Healing Touch
Massage therapy is a way for seniors to improve their health without the sometimes debilitating side effects of pharmaceutical drugs. Massage has been around for thousands of years and the human body recognizes the healing power of touch. One of the great benefits of regular massage for seniors is that many lack caring touch, and massage can provide that needed healing touch in a safe and caring manner
Disease and Stress
Stress is a big problem in the United States, and seniors are just as apt to suffer from the debilitating effects of stress as anyone. It is estimated that as much as 90 percent of disease is related to stress. Knowing there is an extremely high correlation between stress and disease, ways of stress relief should be a major priority for everyone. If there is one big benefit of massage it is its ability in the management of stress by relaxing the body and mind and reducing the level of stress on the body.
Benefits of Massage
Massage has the ability to bring dramatic physical as well as the mental change in the body. In addition to relaxing the muscles and decreasing anxiety, massage can help to lower blood pressure, increase circulation, reduce tiredness and increase energy.
These benefits can have profound effects on the body. Increasing the circulation of your body helps it to pump more oxygen and nutrients to vital organs and tissues. The body maintains health and heals through the blood, which supplies the necessary nutrients and oxygen for optimal health.
Along with increasing blood and oxygen supply, massage helps the lymphatic system function better. The lymph system helps to eliminate toxins, and the biggest beneficiary of increased lymph flow is the largest organ of the body – human skin. Increased lymph drainage can improve skin tone, texture, and elasticity of the skin, as well as reduce edema in the extremities.
If you suffer from joint pains, regular massage therapy can help to increase your range of motion by helping to improve the health of the joint as well as decreasing the tension of the muscles surrounding the joint. It will also decrease muscle spasms and cramps which can be a chronic problem for many seniors. And as always, deep tissue massage will soften, relax and heal those overused muscles and any injured muscle tissue.
Another wonderful benefit of massage therapy is it helps release endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s natural painkiller. If you are suffering from chronic or acute aches and pain, regular massage can help release endorphins to ease the pain and help you avoid the need for pharmaceutical pain medications to deal with chronic injury or post-surgery pain.
Summary of “Massaging Restores Seniors Get Up and Go”
There are many more senior benefits to receiving regular massage therapy, but the bottom line is the earlier you start getting massages and the more regularly you receive the benefits of this healing touch therapy, the more likely you will recover from your injuries and avoid the stress, chronic aches, and pains of most aging people. If you don’t suffer from chronic issues, don’t wait for those middle-aged aches and pains to become chronic in your golden years. Receiving massage therapy on a regular basis will help you to feel better and function more efficiently.
Don’t fall for the current “drug” of choice with its many side effects to take away your pain. Discover massage therapy and its healing abilities that allow your body to do what it was intended to do – heal and take care of itself. Start massage therapy today, go often, and you may just get an addiction that is actually good for your health. For more information about simplifying lifestyle visit the linked site.