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Massage therapy’s beneficial effects

Massage therapy and its many benefits are well known and recognized, not only for its relaxing aspect but also for its therapeutic benefits. The massage therapy popularity is increasing due to the important role it plays in reducing pain, muscle tension and the effects of stress on the body. Moreover, we now know it has a positive impact on sleep quality and that it improves the overall quality of life. When received on a regular basis, it also contributes to energize the body and to strengthen the immune system. Although some therapists use a combination of techniques, massage therapy cares can be divided in two categories.

Relaxation massage

The relaxation massage immerses the body in a deep state of relaxation and increases blood flow. Therapists use various techniques; among them, the best known and most popular is the Swedish massage technique. Far from being limited in their practice, therapists now use various techniques, each fulfilling specific needs, such as:

Reducing the effects of stress on the body;
Increase sleep quality;
Reduce muscular tensions;
Ease blood flow;
Optimize the digestive system, as well as the vital organs’ well-being.

Bienfaits de la massothérapie - Réseau des massothérapeutes

Therapeutic cares

Over the course of the last decades, therapeutic massage techniques have evolved greatly and improved the therapeutic potential of this discipline. Today, therapists master massage techniques that help to:

Relieve pain caused by muscular tensions;

Enhance the overall body well-being;

Increase muscular injury recovery;

Prevent muscular or articular physiological problems.

Other techniques such as kinesitherapy or orthotherapy are used by many therapists to treat various conditions such as tendonitis, bursitis and capsulitis, postural imbalances and minor intervertebral disruptions.

Prevention

Massage therapy cares, on a regular basis, contribute to a quality of life by improving well-being. They aim at improving flexibility, allowing the body to evolve under optimal conditions and preventing premature aging. These preventive effects are very important in sports massage techniques, such as in the physical training of competitive athletes.

Specialised cares tailored to different types of clients

Other than sports massage, which was discussed earlier, massage therapy has seen many types of techniques developed in order to suit the specific needs and types of clients. Among these, we find the massage for pregnant woman, the massage for children and for babies, the oncomassage for people who lived with cancer and the chair massage.

Scientifically proven benefits

Dr. Pierre Arsenault conducted a massage therapy scientific literature review on behalf of the Réseau, to demonstrate that it reduces a wide range of medical conditions’ symptoms, such as:

Chronic fatigue;
Stress;
Migraines;
Chronic pain;
Lumbar pain;
Shoulder and neck pain;
Musculoskeletal inflammation;
Mental health and depressing disorders.

You will find the studies’ conclusion (in French) on the scientific literature review dedicated page.

Low back pain

Neck pain

Elbow pain

Shoulder pain

Stress and muscle tension

Cramps and muscle spasms

Knee pain

Hip pain