Remember that song you learned as a kid? The hand bone’s connected to the arm bone; the arm bone’s connected to the shoulder bone …”It’s all true,” says CG Funk, VP of Industry Relations for Massage Envy Spa and a licensed massage therapist. “That’s why therapists typically work the whole body.” Here’s a top-to-bottom overview of how massage benefits every part of you.
Head and Neck
You probably don’t often think about the muscles that stretch from your neck across your jaw and scalp. But as in any other area, tightened muscles in the head and neck restrict the circulatory and nervous systems, leading to pain. Massage helps release that tension, alleviating discomfort from migraines, headaches and temporomandibular joint disorders known as TMJ, which involve jaw pain and locking.
To address such issues, a massage therapist might use cranial sacral therapy, holding the bones of the head for up to several minutes. Funk compares the techniques to melting butter on low heat: The gentle pressure allows the muscle tissue to relax gradually.
Shoulders, Arms and Hands
Whether your shoulder is sore from playing tennis or your wrist aches from too much typing, massage can increase mobility throughout your upper body. An injury, arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome causes inflammation, which compresses the muscles around the joint. “The muscles tighten in order to protect what’s been injured,” Funk says. “They remain in that tightened state well after the initial acute injury is healed.” Cue the massage. Calming the muscles allows for the movement needed to stay healthy.
Knees, Legs and Hips
From the pros to the weekend warriors, all types of athletes can benefit from sports massage. The massage therapist, using techniques similar to those used in a classic Swedish massage, targets muscles and tendons suffering from strain or overuse. Any area with persistent soreness, like a knee or hip that aches after every run, is a candidate, Funk says. Studies have shown that massage decreases muscle soreness and improves range of motion in athletes – which also helps them prevent injury, Funk says. Many injuries “could be avoided if (athletes) were more flexible and mobile.”
Feet
Some massage therapists can find your sinuses and spleen in your foot, so to speak. How? They’ve been trained in reflexology, a therapy in which the feet and hands are mapped by correlating body parts. Because nerves end in the feet, pressure applied there is thought to reduce tension elsewhere. Just interested in a basic foot massage? That helps, too, Funk says, whether you’re looking to soothe foot pain from a condition like plantar fasciitis or simply enjoy the moment. “A great foot massage does help relax the entire body,” she says.
Book an appointment today at our Santa Clarita Massage Envy Spa (Via Princessa and Sierra Hwy) location to see how massage benefits every part of you! Call 661-251-3689