What are the benefits of massage treatments?

While most would (rightly) assume that one of the main benefits of a massage is a relaxed physical feeling, there's a lot more to it than that. Effects actually begin mentally, as your brain signals your body that it's all good to relax, which primes your muscles for the kneading and physical benefits that follow.

​

When focusing on the physical benefits of a massage, a runner's massage is a good example to start with. Therapeutic treatments for runners have wide-ranging benefits, including reversing damage done during workouts, boosting circulation, and increasing your joints' range of motion. In short: they make you feel a whole lot better.

​

1. Swedish massage

This relaxation-focused form of massage is what most people think of first when they think about massage. Therapists use a sequence of long, gliding strokes, kneads, and circular motions to help ease shallow tension in the muscles.

Benefit: Besides helping to relax the muscles and ease superficial tension, Swedish massage may also help boost circulation throughout the body.

Try it if: you're new to massage or you're looking to relieve light to moderate tension in your back and shoulders.

2. Deep-tissue massage.

As it's name suggests, deep-tissue massage aims to relieve tension in the deeper layers of muscle tissue and fascia. As such, it uses more intense kneading techniques than Swedish.

Benefits: Deep-tissue massage is ideal for releasing chronic tension and may also help improve range of motion.

Try it if: you suffer from chronic aches and pains or want more pressure than classic Swedish massage offers.

​

3. Hot stone massage

Rather than relying solely on their hands to work out stubborn knots, the massage therapist places heated basalt stones on the back to help melt tight areas.

Benefits: Besides helping to relieve tense areas, the heat from the stones can help improve blood flow.

Try it if: you suffer from hard-to-loosen trouble spots and like the therapeutic heat.

​

4. Sports massage

Specifically designed with athletes in mind, sports massage is a variation on Swedish massage that aims to address aches caused by repetitive motion and help active people make a quicker recovery from stress and injury.

Benefits: Quicker workout recovery times, better range of motion, and improved performance are just a few of the benefits reported by those who receive regular sports massages.

Try it if: you play sports or frequently work out and want to keep your body in top condition.

​

5. Trigger point massage

Like deep-tissue massage, trigger point massage aims to dispel chronic tension located deep in the muscles. But while deep-tissue is ideal for tension spread out over a large area, trigger point is better for pain that radiates from a very specific spot (or spots).

Benefits: Eases pain caused by sciatica, rotator cuff issues, stiff joints, plantar fasciatis, and other specific issues.

Try it if: you suffer from any of the above ailments AND you can handle some tough love (trigger point massage has a reputation for being a little painful).

​

6. Foot massage

Just what it sounds like: a relaxing massage for the feet.

Benefits: Unlike reflexology, which specifically aims to target other areas of the body, a traditional foot massage simply aims to provide relaxation to over-worked feet.

Try it if: you have a job that requires you to stay on your feet all day.

​

​