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People get a massage for many different reasons. The most common of which is for sheer relaxation. Our fast-paced lives make everyone a candidate for a massage. As a result, more individuals are having massages at the advice of their doctor, to manage stress and tension.
The benefits of massage therapy fall into three main categories:
- Physical - Massage can stretch and loosen muscles, improve the flow of oxygen, and stimulate the release of the body's natural painkillers, known as endorphins. For these reasons, massage can be used to treat common lower back pain, sports-related injuries and repetitive use injuries which are commonly associated with labor intensive occupations. Massage also increases the rate of healing for injured muscular tissue, improves posture and reduces blood pressure.
- Mental - Many types of massage therapy reduce stress, promote better sleep, and reduce anxiety and mental fatigue. In many cases massage also promotes concentration and clearer thinking.
- Emotional - Massage therapy may lessen anxiety and create a better sense of well-being. It may also ease the discomfort that is associated with some health conditions, especially mild depression.
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