How does massage help those in pain?

Muscle fibers are designed to tense and relax and go through a natural tense/relax cycle as you use your body.   A muscle under sustained tension without a corresponding relaxation phase becomes stiff and eventually spams causing pain. There are three reasons why muscles don’t relax:

• Overuse is for example when you injury yourself in the gym.
• Disuse is when your muscles tense when you are at your desk due to the body’s natural response to the demands and pressure you are under.  Muscles are designed to be used which means if you sit still for long periods the muscular tension doesn’t dissipate.
• Misuse for the majority of people this is due to poor habits when walking, standing and sitting.  Sedentary lifestyles means the muscles of the legs are often held in contracted positions for long periods of time and which can lead to stiffness.  Sitting at computers for long hours keeps the neck and back in fixed positions causing the same muscles to contract which can lead to muscle tension and in some people muscle pain.

What can I do to prevention muscular stiffness and pain?

• Stretching Often - Stretching is, of course, a valuable way to relieve muscle stiffness.
• Exercise - Exercise in general is extremely good for releasing muscular stiffness, improving your mood and creating good health.
• Yoga -You can also consider yoga, which is a form of both exercise and stretching, and may have a positive effect on your future muscle discomfort.
• General Health - Your muscles are also very sensitive to your general health as well. You need to do anything you can to make sure you're getting enough sleep, eating protein, and drinking water. These small changes are going to improve your muscle health, which should improve the way your muscles deal with demanding lifestyles.
• Massage - Massage is an excellent way to combat muscle stiffness and pain.

Both deep tissue and sports massage help to release muscular stiffness and pain, in addition sports massage treats sports injuries.

A number of studies have identified that nurses experience a range of symptoms indicative of work related stress including

1. Headaches
2. Shoulder tension
3. Fatigue
4. Muscle and joint pain

All of which can lead to more long term problems or dissatisfaction at work, absenteeism or burn out. An study looked at the "feasibility of chair massage during the work hours of nurses in impatient and out patient settings and its effects on stress-related symptoms".   A total of 38 nurses received a weekly 15 minute chair massage treatment once a week for 10 weeks.  All the nurses were assessed prior to the study at 5 weeks and then at 10 weeks for

• Overall quality of life
• Self-perceived levels of stress
• Anxiety
• Symptoms relating to anxiety

Scored produced by all four measurements showed that compared with prior to intervention, symptoms improved at 5 weeks and improved even further at 10 weeks, with the results were most noticeable in those nurses working longer hours (12 hour shifts).  92 percent of the nurses made positive comments in relation to

• improvements in sleeping
• reduction in pain, stress and tension
• reduction in headaches

78% reported that their overall job satisfaction had improved and 60% showed a willingness to pay for chair massages if they were made available at work. Researchers concluded that "offering chair massages for nurses during work hours, while challenging because of busy schedules reduced stress related symptoms significantly and was highly appreciated by the nurses." Book your chair massage now >> Book Now Reference Engen JE et al (2012) Feasibility and effect of chair massage offered to nurses during working hours on stress related symptoms: A pilot study.  Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 18(4): 221-22

Nearly 20% of people in the UK experience symptoms of anxiey or depression in 2014 according the Mental Health Foundation. A systemic review of five medical databases has found evidence to support the effictiveness of aromatherapy for alleviating depressive symptoms.  A team of scientists at the Hong Kong Polytechnic Univeristy found 12 randomiased controlled trials involving a total of 1,226 participants - 984 were female and 224 male, with an average age of 47.  Two of the five inhalation studies and five of the eight massage trails reported improvements in subjects conditions, with the aromatherapy massage found to be more effective. So if you feel depressed why not try and aromatherapy massage. Note: Vitality Therapy do not offer aromatherapy massage. References