Treat Yourself: The Health Benefits of Massage

Getting a massage is a luxury for many people, and oftentimes, it’s only an occasional treat, given as a birthday gift, a Mother’s Day indulgence, or as part of a full spa treatment on a weekend getaway.  We don’t think about massage in a clinical setting, or recognize it as a type of therapy, since it’s usually used as a splurge.  However, massage is actually very beneficial to your health.

How?

First, massage can help treat recurring muscle pain from stress and strain brought on by your job, your children, or even an old injury.  Having regular massages can loosen up those tight muscles and help keep you flexible and free of pain.  If you are having problems with a specific area, a professional massage therapist will know how your various muscle groups connect and work together, so he or she can pinpoint exactly where your pain is originating from and help relieve it.

Additionally, massage therapy can offer stress relief, which is beneficial to your health on many levels.  High stress leads to health concerns such as high blood pressure and heart rate, fatigue, depression and anxiety, and a plethora of other issues.  Massage offers relief from your physical AND mental stress since it puts you in a deep state of relaxation.  A professional therapist will know how to help you relax and release some of the built-up tension and stress.

Finally, massage can encourage healthy body processes.  In other words, things that your body should do naturally, can be helped along and made better by regular massage.  For example, expectant mothers can opt for prenatal massage throughout their pregnancy to help their bodies adjust and cope with growing another life.  When they get close to delivery, a massage therapist can help loosen muscles and keep the mother flexible and comfortable to ensure the easiest birth possible for mom and baby.  In this same way, your respiratory function, digestive system, nervous system, etc. can all benefit from massage (depending on your own unique circumstances) if you have a therapist aware of your current health condition and qualified to handle it.

The best part about massage being used for health is that some health coverage plans are recognizing its merit and are willing to cover it when used for medical purposes.  In other words, if you are receiving routine massages to help with a pulled muscle group after an injury, you could be eligible for compensation by your insurance company for the cost of the massage therapy.  As long as the massage is deemed medically necessary and beneficial, it’s worth asking your insurance company if they offer partial, or complete, coverage of such care.  If you have questions about your current health policy, or are currently uninsured and would like to find a plan that works for you, give us a call.  Carroll Marshall Insurance is ready to answer your questions and help you protect yourself and the ones you love with coverage you need.