By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    bowl of vegetable salad
    Raw Foods: benefits and harms
    November 9, 2021
    pros and cons of the keto diet
    Read This Before You Follow the Keto Diet
    May 18, 2022
    spinal cord injuries
    4 Potential Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries (and How to Seek Compensation)
    May 25, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Striking Back at the Drug Abuse Epidemic [VIDEO]
    December 19, 2013
    The basics of getting health insurance
    The Basics of Getting Health Insurance
    June 13, 2022
    Finally: An FDA (Draft) Guidance for Social Media in Medical Marketing
    January 21, 2014
    Latest News
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Here’s How Massage Therapy Can Decrease Stress And Anxiety
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health care > Here’s How Massage Therapy Can Decrease Stress And Anxiety
Health carePublic HealthWellness

Here’s How Massage Therapy Can Decrease Stress And Anxiety

cindywilliamsa
Last updated: July 9, 2019 8:12 pm
cindywilliamsa
Share
8 Min Read
SHARE

 

Stress is something that every person on the planet will have to deal with at some point of their lives. While our lives can be very stressful, how people deal with stress, anxiety, and depression can differ greatly from person to person. For instance, some people may turn to anti-depressants, anxiolytics, and benzodiazepines to help deal with some of their symptoms. Others may turn to alcohol, illicit drugs, sex, binge eating, and other addictive and ultimately destructive behaviors to help numb their pain.

In regards to stress and psychosomatic symptoms, stress actually causes every part of the human anatomy to be impacted adversely. Cortisol-a steroid hormone- is released when a person is feeling stressed, which has deleterious effects on the body, and the tension that is triggered will usually cause the person who is stressed to experience muscle stiffness and even pain in some cases.

Chronic stress, when left untreated, can also cause back, neck, and shoulder pain, headaches, migraines, inflammation, depression, lethargy, and insomnia. Stress has also been linked to cardiovascular disease, so managing stress in a healthy manner is of the utmost importance. Here, we will discuss how massage therapy can decrease both stress and anxiety when practiced consistently and with positive intent. Physiotherapy and massage therapy offer benefits to the mental and physical health of patients. Both of these disciplines work to restore the body to its optimal health and function.

More Read

Transforming Medicaid via the Medical Home Model
20 Best Smartphone Apps to Combat School Stress
Why Patients Need to Become Experts !
Oral Health: How To Prepare For A Dental Emergency
Essential Guidelines for Improving Workplace Hygiene

The Benefits of Using Massage Therapy in Stress Relief

Massage therapy is often described by patients as the ideal way for them to experience a positive elevation in mood. In fact, many describe massage therapy as an enjoyable and relaxing way for them to experience joy, peace, and utter serenity. In other words, if you suffer from chronic stress and anxiety then massage therapy, when performed by an experienced and licensed massage therapist who carefully listens to your needs, can help dissipate or release stress and tension quite rapidly.

In terms of what happens to the body when massage therapy is administered, the body actually releases “feel-good” hormones, including dopamine and serotonin: The release of the aforementioned hormones usually tends to occur just a few minutes into the session, albeit, it helps if you are relaxed and comfortable with the massage therapist who is working on your body.

The release of dopamine and serotonin will actually mitigate or neutralize the very harmful effects of cortisol, which is the primary stress hormone in the body. Given the fact that cortisol increases glucose in the bloodstream, surpasses the digestive system, and alters immunological functionality, trying to reduce excess cortisol production can greatly help with the physical symptoms of chronic stress and anxiety.

Moreover, people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or other chronic gastrointestinal disorders, can also greatly benefit from massage therapy, while the exact cause of IBS is unknown, nor is there a cure currently available, some studies have found that patients with IBS report their worst flare-ups of symptoms when they are feeling very stressed or anxious.

Thus, massage therapy can help relieve symptoms of diarrhea, constipation, nausea, bloating, gas, cramps, headaches, fibromyalgia, eyestrain, and other inflammatory symptoms or ailments. Massage therapy and physiotherapy restore function and relieve pain. Both use exercises and soft tissue manipulation to help their patients in different ways.

Source: Physio Now

This infographic provides a quick overview about physiotherapy, its rehabilitation methods and the many conditions treated by physiotherapists. There are numerous opportunities in both fields. Massage therapy has become more and more popular in recent years, with more people learning about the health benefits. Physical therapist assistants are also in demand as the population ages.

Massage Therapy Leads to a Healthier Heart

Many studies have also found that massage therapy, administered over a prolonged period of time, helps lower heart rate as well as the patient’s blood pressure. As a result, if you want to help optimize your heart’s functionality then regular massage therapy can help reduce the amount of strain that your heart has to experience; thereby optimizing your circulatory system, which may also boost your stamina and endurance levels in the process.

Reduce Anxiety

Stress and anxiety tend to go hand in hand. That is, when you’re feeling stressed your anxiety also tends to increase, as you may be anxious about your stress levels increasing, or may worry about becoming very stressed again in the future. In addition, elevated anxiety can also increase your stress levels, as you may become angry over your anxious feelings, or maybe frustrated about not being able to handle your anxiety in a normal and healthy fashion. As such, like yin and yang, anxiety and stress tend to be interrelated or connected in many ways.

In fact, studies have found that elevated stress levels often lead to respiratory problems, such as hyperventilation, as well as recurring panic attacks; which can be quite terrifying and even embarrassing if they happen in public: The cause for such symptoms is usually the release of adrenaline and cortisol, which serve as the primary stress hormones that trigger the body’s fight or flight response.

Then, once the fight or flight response is triggered, the person begins to breathe heavier, which places added pressure on their lungs. The good news is a physiotherapist can actually help reduce the number of panic attacks that you experience, as they can teach you breathing exercises that can help relax you whenever you’re feeling anxious or stressed. Hence, you can prevent panic attacks before they even begin via massage therapy.

Reduce Stress Sensitivity and Improve Sleep

Massage therapy is a form of exercise, and studies have found that regular exercise can reduce perceived stress by up to 78% in some patients. Massage therapy can also reduce stress symptoms and sensitivity as well. In regards to sleep, your massage therapist can teach you optimal sleep positioning, as well as posture training, and even various relaxation techniques that can improve your sleep duration as well as the quality of your sleep; thereby treating insomnia, nocturia, sleep apnea, and other sleep disorders that can greatly disrupt a person’s life and well-being.

Conclusion

Massage therapy can make a major positive impact on your wellbeing.

TAGGED:anxietymassage therapymassagesrehabilitationstress
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By cindywilliamsa
Cindy Williams is a blogger in Toronto. Previously, she worked as an outreach coordinator for a medical software startup. She graduated with honors from University of British Columbia with a dual degree in Business Administration and Creative Writing.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025
How Therapy Can Improve Your Mental Health and Daily Life
How Therapy Can Improve Your Mental Health and Daily Life
Mental Health
June 18, 2025
healthcare facilities
Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
Global Healthcare Infographics
June 15, 2025
from gut to glow
From Plate to Wellness: How Everyday Foods Nourish Your Body Inside and Out
Dental health Infographics Specialties
June 15, 2025

You Might also Like

Exercise a Brain-Booster for the Elderly

March 7, 2011
part of your home that could make your sick
Home Health

7 Things In Your Home That Could Be Making You Sick

January 12, 2019
Dengue Vulnerability
Global HealthcarePolicy & LawPublic Health

Making a Case for Sustainable Health Care

January 6, 2015
Health careSpecialties

Could New Chronic Care Treatments Help Manage Your Arthritis?

August 21, 2019
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?