How Massage Therapy Can Help You Enjoy Summer Activities Even More
Summer is here, and so are all the exciting activities many of us can enjoy again. Whether you like to fill your schedule with things to do, or you prefer to take a more relaxing approach to the heat, feeling your best is incredibly important. A great way to help achieve this is through massage therapy, thanks to its numerous benefits for our body and mind.
Massage offers numerous benefits for our body and mind, which is perfect for helping you enjoy your summer activities even more, especially after months of limited physical exertion. If you are not sure what type of massage to get, or you want to try something new, be sure to look through our array of services to find what suits your needs.
Below are some of the benefits that massage can provide, which can help prepare you for a pain-free and relaxing summer of fun!
- Reduces Swelling & Inflammation
If you enjoy playing sports during the summertime, or you are out in your garden more than usual, you are probably familiar with the strain it can take on your joints and muscles. Particularly in warm temperatures, heat and humidity can play a large role in affecting our joints, leading to pain, swelling, and inflammation.
Massage therapy works to directly address these concerns by increasing nutrients, oxygen, and blood flow within our body, while at the same time removing waste products that are often causing the symptoms we want to stay away from. Research has shown that massage can benefit your body on a cellular level, as the pain-reducing properties that a massage can provide may be similar to the mechanisms of anti-inflammatory drugs.
Whether you use it as a treatment after your next vigorous activity or before in preparation, massage should be an addition to your summer activity list to help keep your body optimal for longer.
- Treats and Prevents Injury
Similar to the swelling and inflammation we can experience, the summertime often brings an increased level of activity that may have been lacking during the winter months, and all it takes is one wrong move for your body to be out of commission for a while. To make sure this doesn’t happen, or at least promote faster healing if it does, consider massage therapy.
Massage uses a variety of therapeutic techniques that bring special attention to our muscles and tissues that can cause us to feel pain and discomfort when we injure ourselves. Even performing tasks that may seem simple, such as bending or reaching during gardening, might cause tension in the body that can lead to an overall achy feeling. During a massage, the various levels of pressure lead to an increase in muscle compliance, which improves the range of motion in our joints and decreases stiffness in the body. This can be especially helpful when acute pain can leave our muscles feeling stiff, particularly after an injury.
Preventing injury is also important, and it starts with flexibility. When muscles become overworked, it is often more difficult to get them in a relaxed state, especially when left untreated. Reduced muscle flexibility can lead to a variety of consequences, which can often result in injury. However, regular massages give the body the chance to increase the level of oxygen and nutrients that need to be delivered to our muscles, remove any blockages that cause pain, and can lead to an overall reduction in injury, especially when you enjoy that summer activity on your list.
- Feel Re-energized
That moment when you drink a cold beverage on a hot summer day is unmatched; think of massage therapy doing the same thing for your body and mind. When we are constantly on the move during summer, either because kids are off from school or there are more activities to do outside, we may start to notice a sluggish feeling begin to develop both mentally and physically. The hot temperatures certainly don’t help!
Getting a massage provides a chance to take a breather so that you are better prepared to face your day and the activities you do within it. With a clear mind, you can gain better focus/attention and deal less with the stress and anxiety that can easily show up in your day-to-day life. Massage actively reduces stress hormones, such as cortisol, and boosts dopamine and serotonin (the hormones that help us regulate our mood and feel happy). This can have a direct impact on our mood and how we approach the day.
- Lowers Stress & Improves Immune System
Summer is the time to have fun – you don’t want to let feeling sick keep you from doing the activities you enjoy. Regular massage therapy has shown a direct impact on our immune system, largely due to the reduction of stress levels in our body when we get a massage.
Stress not only impacts our emotional health but how our immune system functions as well. Research has found that stress can lead to a decrease in white blood cells, which are needed to fight infection. This is why incorporating stress-relieving activities in your day as much as possible, such as with massage, can help immensely with the maintenance of good health, which keeps you enjoying the activities you love.
Although massage therapy is useful in every season, it is especially important in summer so that you can enjoy those outdoor activities that were put in hibernation during the winter months. Contact Massage Experts today to find a clinic near you.
