Massage – Legitimately Beneficial?

By Lisa Owens

Receiving a massage from a licensed massage therapist has been shown to be beneficial in many ways. Until recent years some health professionals have been skeptical of the many benefits of massage.  Those doubts have been discussed in a recent article by Dr. Gupta from Time.com’s Fit Nation. In the article he discussed some of the recent research on the benefits gained from receiving a massage from a licensed Massage Therapist.

 One study done by the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine focused on advanced-stage cancer patients. They found that those who were massaged by a trained therapist had less pain, and improved mood than patients who were touched in a manner similar to massage, but not by a licensed massage therapist. Dr. Jean Kutner who works with many cancer patients noted that massage may help increase mood simply because of the nature of the physical touch. She says that those who are ill don’t get normal human contact in their daily lives. Their contact is usually limited to medical procedures, and that is why massage can be a welcome, and healing touch.

In his article Dr. Gupta, a neurosurgeon, contributes the mental benefits of massage, such as decreased depression,  to biochemical factors. It is the same concept as the runner’s high. Muscles are stimulated, circulation is increased, and chemicals are released during a massage in a way that is similar to exercise. Secretion of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine are increased, and the stress hormone cortisol decreases. These factors along with many others make massage beneficial at any age. There are many types of massage techniques, and each one has a different goal, and focus that helps to relieve different issues. Finding the right massage technique for you can be a great boost to your health. Massage on it’s own, or with other medical procedures works for many to relieve stress, soreness, chronic pain, and other health concerns.

See our directory for a list of licensed Massage Therapists in the Utah Valley area.