Does getting massages regularly actually help?
Massages feel amazing and I love getting them but they are so expensive. If viable, does getting massages regularly have any lonbf term benefits and what are they? Will it cure chronic pain?
To answer this question, you must be logged in.
Already have an account? Login.
By Signing up, you indicate that you have read and agree to Sage's Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
Answers ( 2 )
The benefits may vary from person-to-person, but massage can be beneficial to many chronic health issue, like fibromyalgia, headaches, muscle pain, and stress, anxiety and depression. It wouldn't have any long-term benefits, it's a palliative treatment, relieving issues now, but not for the long-term - unless you continue getting massages. Massage done mildly can be a comfort, done aggressively, that can cause other issues, and would be more suitable to sports activity. Athletes often use massage as a treatment to aid performance in improve recovery, so for them it is essential. But again, the benefits of massage itself isn't long-term, but regular massage can benefit for a number of conditions.
Help what?
The masseuse's bank account? Sure!
Your physical health? Sometimes. Measurably? Sometimes less. Your feel-good state of mind? Sure- mostly- for a little while, anyway.
Massage is great- it is a self-imposed time wherein you are encouraged to relax, and to do nothing more than receive physically pleasurable (usually- elbows may not help that) sensations- what's not to like? But there's darned little verifiable, peer-reviewed evidence out there that it does much more than that for the customer. I've not met anyone who does not like some form of massage- even ancient-old people with a dementing disease can like hand massages and having their back stroked.
But, there is very little medical-science based evidence massage, itself, leads to improved overall health- and what evidence I can find is most often linked to surgical or disease-process conditions- such as cancer pain and foot reflexology- .not just "I get a massage twice a week and my health is improved".
Massage therapy has been shown to reduce stress/anxiety- a condition which can lead to increased blood pressure and the concomitant problems of hypertension, but, once the massage is over, the effect wears off soon- the blood-pressure-lowering effect does not last. However, pain clinic type recommendations often include massage- likely because chronic pain is so very difficult to survive without complications, and massage usually feels good- an at least blessedly bright spot in the day of a chronic pain sufferer.
I'm not going to tell anyone not to utilize massage, I will only warn them massage likely isn't the answer to your long-term health prayer- although it may be the answer to your masseuse's bank balance prayer.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5564319/