How to Know If You Need Massage Therapy

If you have neck, shoulder, or back pain

If you have neck and shoulder pain, massage therapy can be a great way to relieve stress. Massage therapists are trained to help you relax and breathe better, which can help reduce neck and shoulder pain.

If you have chronic lower back pain that doesn't go away with stretching or physical therapy exercises, massage therapy is another option. Lower back pain is often caused by tight muscles in the lower back that need extra attention.

A qualified massage therapist will apply pressure to key points on your body in order to improve circulation, reduce pain, and influence the functioning of other systems.

If you can't sleep well

Many of us are aware that our bodies depend on sleep, and when we don't get enough—our health suffers.

Our bodies start to struggle with basic functions like digestion and healing when we're sleep deprived or experience poor sleep quality. When you don't get enough sleep, your body releases cortisol, which causes inflammation in the body. 

This can lead to:

• Chronic pain
• Digestive issues
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Depression
• Anxiety

Regular sessions with a skilled massage therapist can help you to address this—especially if your therapist is able to assess and treat the underlying causes of your pain.

If you suffer from anxiety or depression

If your symptoms are severe, you may need to seek out a therapist who specializes in treating mental health issues.

But if your symptoms are mild or moderate and you want to try something more holistic before going down the pharmaceutical route, massage therapy is the perfect place to start.

Massage has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression by releasing chemicals in the brain that increase feelings of calmness and happiness. It can also help people sleep better and alleviate physical pain, which contributes to depression.

If you sit at a desk all day

If you sit at a desk for most of the day, you'll know how back and neck pain can make it difficult to get through your workday.

You might feel like a massage therapy session is too expensive or unnecessary, but it's actually one of the best ways to help ease pain from sitting all day.

When you're sitting at your desk, your muscles are in constant contraction because they are supporting the weight of your body. This causes tightness and soreness throughout the body—especially in the back and neck area.

A massage therapist can use their hands and other tools like balls or rollers to create relief by breaking up muscle tension and improving blood flow. They'll also be able to offer advice on how to prevent future pain with simple exercises and stretches that can be done at home.

If you're an athlete

Athletes are constantly putting their bodies under extreme stress.

From running to lifting weights, they're using their muscles in ways that they weren't designed to be used. Over time, this can lead to pain and discomfort, which can make it difficult to get through even a simple workout.

Massage therapy is a great way to help your body recover from these workouts. It helps stretch out tight muscles and relieve the tension that builds up around joints throughout the day. It also helps improve blood flow and circulation in the area being treated, which can reduce inflammation and soreness.

If you experience headaches regularly

If you experience headaches or migraines regularly, massage therapy can be an incredible way to help reduce stress and relieve tension in the head and muscles.

Headaches are often caused by tightness in the muscles around the shoulders, neck, and back. Massage therapy can help release these muscles and reduce pain caused by headaches.

Migraines are also often triggered by stress or tension in your muscles. Massage therapy can help relax these muscles and reduce the frequency of migraines you experience.

If you tend to get headaches or migraines frequently, consider adding massage therapy to your treatment plan!

If you have back pain

If you've ever had back pain, you know how frustrating and annoying it can be.

This is especially true if the pain is chronic, which means that it comes and goes but never really goes away. If this sounds like you, then you might want to consider massage therapy as a way to help alleviate your pain.

Back pain can be caused by many things:

• Poor posture
• Poor ergonomics at work or at home
• A medical condition like arthritis
• Overuse of muscles like those in your back or neck

When you're in pain, it's hard to think about anything else. You just want the pain to go away. And if it's back pain, you want it to go away now.

Conclusion

If you've been experiencing any of the above symptoms, it's likely time to see a massage therapist.

A regular massage therapy program can help relieve pain and stress, improve sleep quality, reduce anxiety and depression levels, increase athletic performance, and provide relief from chronic headaches.

With so many benefits to reap from consistent massage therapy sessions (and no side effects), why would anyone wait?

If you live in or near Watertown, WI, get in touch with us at Gentle Therapies. We are here to help you get out of pain. Book your session today.