Suffering from chronic pain can feel like a lifelong battle. Whether your pain rests in one area or it spreads throughout your body, it can limit what you do each day. There are lots of treatments out there and remedial massage is one of them. Here's how it helps with chronic pain.
Reducing Tension
Your muscles feature a series of finely knit fibres that need to work together smoothly for you to move them. When those fibres knot together in the wrong way, they cause tension. That tension can lead to chronic pain, even when you're not actively using the muscle. Depending on the muscle's role in your body, it may force other muscles around it to carry the slack. Again, this can lead to chronic pain. Someone who has remedial massage training can identify where these knots are and smooth them out, so your muscle fibres can move together in a pain-free way. They may also recommend stretching exercises you can use to complement the massage.
Boosting Bloodflow
Every physical facet of your body depends on good blood flow to function. First, your cells need oxygen and nutrients to thrive. This is especially true for muscles, which experience a build-up of lactic acid when they don't receive enough oxygen. While that lactic acid build-up may not cause issues in the short term, it can result in soreness and aches if it remains for too long. Remedial massage that focuses on a particular area can boost blood flow. Alongside delivering oxygen and nutrients, your blood pulls away toxins that your liver and kidneys can then process out of your body. The fewer toxins you have, the less pain you'll experience.
Decreasing Cortisol
Cortisol is a stress hormone that your body releases in response to a range of events. Although you can't lower your cortisol levels completely, having too much of it increases the amount of inflammation you experience throughout your body. When that inflammation exacerbates an existing condition or injury, your chronic pain can worsen. Remedial massage is excellent for reducing your stress levels. Your masseuse may also recommend self-help tips for lowering them further. With your efforts and theirs, you can reduce your cortisol levels and lower inflammation throughout your body.
Those who can provide remedial massage services are usually adept at assessing exactly what's needed to address chronic pain. At your first appointment, they'll recommend a course of action to improve your condition and help you live comfortably.
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