Some of the Lesser-Known Benefits of Massage Therapy

Wondering how massage can benefit you beyond relaxation? Keep reading to discover why this therapy offers so much more than a simple soothing experience.

Dr. Christopher Oviatt and Dr. Michelle Martinook of Castledowns Chiropractic Clinic, located in Edmonton, AB, provide chiropractic treatments, but also have massage therapy available at their office, and frequently recommend it to their patients.

Educational Requirements for Massage Therapists

When you hear about massages, the common misconception is that anyone can deliver a proper massage, but that is far from the truth. A massage therapist in Alberta requires proper education from an accredited massage therapy school, and will be registered and licensed, with a provincial and/or national board. Licensure is mandatory for a massage therapist to practice, and extra certifications can be pursued with additional schooling for certain specialties.  Becoming a certified registered massage therapist in Alberta involves completing a training program, typically a two-year commitment with a minimum of 2,200 hours of training.

Benefits of a Good Massage

Receiving regular massage therapy offers a range of proven health benefits. According to Castledowns Chiropractic Clinic in Edmonton (and many peer-reviewed research studies), massage therapy may help improve your well-being in several ways, including the following:

• Stress Reduction – This is the number one reason most people seek a massage therapist. The benefit of massage is that it helps to reduce stress and anxiety by calming down your fight or flight responses to life’s stressors.
• Pain relief - Studies have shown that longer massages can help reduce pain in chronic conditions. To achieve the maximum benefits in these cases, it’s recommended to receive massage therapy at least twice a week.
• Better Sleep - Massage can lessen stress (lower cortisol release) and increase helpful hormones such as dopamine, causing better, deeper sleep.
• Cancer Pain Relief - While opinions on this topic vary and more research is needed, many cancer patients use massage therapy for pain relief and report positive results. Given its other benefits, incorporating massage into your treatment plan could be a valuable addition.
• Blood Pressure - Several studies have found that regular massage therapy can help reduce blood pressure in individuals with hypertension.
• Constipation Relief - Gentle abdominal massage can help reduce abdominal pain and bloating associated with constipation.
• Fibromyalgia - Patients with this condition often see improvement in symptoms with regular massages.

Types Of Massage

There is more than just one type of massage. Therapists can seek additional schooling to learn one or more types of massage. Here are a few examples of different types of massage therapy:

• Swedish
• Sports
• Deep Tissue
• Trigger Point
• Lymphatic Massage
• Prenatal Massage
• Myofascial

When you schedule an appointment, our massage therapist will consult with you to determine the best type of massage to address your specific needs.

Call Us Today

Call Castledowns Chiropractic Clinic in Edmonton, AB, at 780-457-3621 to discuss your massage therapy options.