massage for anxiety

How Massage Therapy Can Help to Reduce Symptoms of Anxiety

September 29, 2016

How Massage Therapy Can Help to Rid Anxiety

 

Massage therapy can act to cleanse the body of impurities. It can, for example, help break down built up toxins or waste in muscles, and often has a calming effect on anxious patients. A good massage performed by a trained professional can help you relax and soothe the aches and pains in various parts of your body.

 

In an article recently published by Massage Envy entitled, “Reduce Anxiety with Massage Therapy,” the undisclosed author and expert writes:

 

“If you carry anxiety symptoms in your shoulders, back and neck, a professional massage can specifically target those areas. Regardless of where you carry tension, studies have shown that massage increases your body's levels of oxytocin and serotonin, which results in lowered stress. The feeling of relaxation created by regular massage therapy also lowers your blood pressure and elevates your mood,” the author writes.

 

There are several different types of massage available today. There's Deep Tissue massage, which reaches deep into the sub-layer of musculature and fascia. Practitioners need advanced training and a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology to correctly perform this technique. Another popular technique is Swedish massage, which is a vigorous treatment designed to energize the body by stimulating circulation. It uses five basic strokes--kneading, rolling, vibration, percussive and tapping--to manipulate the body's soft tissues.