Massage Therapy Can Be Very Beneficial to Military Veterans

‍

Veterans are at a higher risk of developing depression than the general population. They might feel isolated from others who don’t understand their experiences or feel haunted by traumatic memories of combat.

‍

As a result, many programs and associations that support veterans offer services like counselling, helplines, and massage therapy to help veterans lead healthy and happy lives following their military service.

‍

In a recently published article entitled, “Massage Therapy for Military Veterans,” author and expert, Karen Menehan, writes:

‍

“PTSD and other emotional and physical problems are implicated in veteran homelessness, opioid abuse and self-harm, according to the USDVA.

‍

“An Aug. 3 report from the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs of the USDVA shows that 20 U.S. veterans commit suicide every day, and suicide by veterans has increased by 32 percent since 2001. Massage therapy and other complementary therapies are frequently offered to veterans’ groups as a way of addressing PTSD and other stress-related problems.”

‍

Research published in Military Medicine reports that military veterans indicated significant reductions in ratings of anxiety, worry, depression and physical pain after massage. Analysis also suggests declining levels of tension and irritability following massage.