You don’t need us to tell you that we are living in stressful times! Here, at the Centre, we are seeing increasing numbers of clients who are looking for ways to manage and reduce their stress levels.
Therapeutic massage has been used for thousands of years in many cultures around the world to manage stress and anxiety. Now it seems that science is beginning to catch up! A study by T Field PhD in 2014 found that moderate pressure massage helped reduce depression and anxiety, lowered the heart rate and decreased cortisol levels. MRI data collected during the study suggested that massage affects the areas of the brain involved in regulating stress and emotions. Moderate pressure massage was also found to reduce pain in people suffering from fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, reduce depression and improve immune function.
Due to the increased levels of stress hormones, long term stress can also manifest in unpleasant physical symptoms such as palpitations, excessive sweating and chest pain. As a relaxation technique, regular massage therapy can help reduce the “fight or flight” response associated with stress and anxiety.
If you, or someone you know, is struggling to manage stress and anxiety, we have a number of treatments that can help. Get in touch for a chat about how we can help.
