Healthy Ways Getting a Massage Benefits Your Entire Body

 Massage therapy is systematically and strategically manipulating the soft tissues of the human body to produce a relaxed state, as well as alleviating things like pain, discomfort, anxiety, and fatigue,” Christopher Deery, a licensed massage therapist who is board-certified for therapeutic massage and bodywork, tells SELF. This working definition covers a broad range of different massage styles and techniques, Deery explains.”After graduation from massage school, massage therapists can go and explore different types of knowledge to suit their own personal practice.” But self-massage and massages between couples do have some benefits, and during a pandemic, they are worth trying out if you’re interested and able.

Ask anyone who’s ever received a professional massage: A few good elbows in the back can work some serious magic. After a high-quality, professional massage, you leave feeling incredibly peaceful, yet somehow powerful. It’s like all you needed was to get a few kinks worked out. As it turns out, those benefits aren’t just anecdotal. Nope — the power of massage therapy is backed by decades of scientific research, with some of the most groundbreaking studies being less than 10 years old (in the science world, that’s not long). You probably already know that massage makes you feel better mentally and physically, but it’s worth discovering exactly why that is. Ahmad Sprouse, DC, and his staff at Integrated Body & Medicine in Highland, Indiana, really want you to know how your body responds to massage.

Intimacy between couples: Physical touch does more than simply feel good. As SELF previously reported, several studies suggest that physical touch can lower blood pressure and increase hormones like oxytocin, which makes us feel good. And a small 2020 study published in the Journal of Health Psychology found that massages that couples give each other are beneficial for the giver and the receiver. So, even if you’re not looking for a medical massage, if you have a partner and are looking to bond a bit, it’s not a bad idea to break out some massage oil and use it on them (or vice versa).

Constipation relief: If you’re dealing with constipation or other digestive issues, a stomach massage might help alleviate some of your discomforts. A 2016 study published in Gastroenterology Nursing found that abdominal massages helped people dealing with post-surgery constipation move their bowels and feel a little better.

Fibromyalgia pain management: People with fibromyalgia experience chronic pain as well as sleep, memory, and mood symptoms. While massage therapy isn’t a cure for the condition, the Mayo Clinic says that it is a complementary treatment (along with medication, counseling, and physical therapy). Keep in mind, however, that, in some cases, massage therapy can make your pain worse, the Mayo Clinic explains. It’s best to chat with your primary care doctor about the potential benefits of massage for fibromyalgia and make sure you discuss your condition with your massage therapist beforehand.

Tension headache relief: A tension headache, or concentration headache, can feel like there’s a tight band wrapped around your head, the Mayo Clinic explains. The cause isn’t fully understood, but there is evidence that massages can provide relief for this kind of headache, the Mayo Clinic says. Specifically, it helps relieve muscle tension in your head, neck, and shoulders (which might alleviate your headache symptoms).

Insomnia (related to stress): As we mentioned above, massages positively impact stress, and diminished stress levels can help encourage sleep (though there are other sleep hygiene habits—like having a bedtime ritual and reducing screen time before bed—you might want to explore as well).

Myofascial pain syndrome management: Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic pain condition where pressure on your muscles can cause pain (sometimes in places that don’t seem related), the Mayo Clinic explains. Though there’s no cure for it, some patients do find benefit from having a physical therapist or massage therapist work on the areas where they’re experiencing pain to relieve muscle tension, the Mayo Clinic explains.