Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic massage is gentler than the sports massage offered at The West-Gate Clinic but is no less thorough. It's therefore the perfect option for individuals looking to reduce muscle tension whilst allowing the body to fully relax. This particular type of massage may be ideal for desk workers, the elderly or teachers.
Research shows that massage is particularly good at relieving stress related problems, from anxiety and panic attacks, through to asthma, and constipation. It is effective at providing pain relief and treating chronic pain, back pain and even arthritis. It is also being used more and more with stroke and cancer patients and those with dementia.
Massage encourages blood flow, resulting in an increase of oxygen and nutrients reaching your organs and tissues. Stimulating the nervous system and encouraging lymphatic drainage can also assist the efficiency of the immune system.
Research shows that massage is particularly good at relieving stress related problems, from anxiety and panic attacks, through to asthma, and constipation. It is effective at providing pain relief and treating chronic pain, back pain and even arthritis. It is also being used more and more with stroke and cancer patients and those with dementia.
Massage encourages blood flow, resulting in an increase of oxygen and nutrients reaching your organs and tissues. Stimulating the nervous system and encouraging lymphatic drainage can also assist the efficiency of the immune system.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a complementary therapy that uses essential oils from plants and flowers. Designed to treat the whole body, aromatherapy aims to assist the body’s natural abilities to heal, rest and recover from stress and illness. Aromatherapy has been used for hundreds of years and research into its uses continues to grow.
Reflexology
Reflexology is a technique that applies gentle pressure to your feet or hands to bring about a state of relaxation and encourages the body's own healing process. It aims to help you relax and cope with stress and anxiety, relieve pain and lift your mood by giving a feeling of well being.
The vagus nerve can also be stimulated by massaging several specific areas of the body. Foot massages and reflexology have shown to increase vagal modulation and heart rate variability, and decrease the “fight or flight” sympathetic response. Thus assisting the reduction of stress and anxiety.
The vagus nerve can also be stimulated by massaging several specific areas of the body. Foot massages and reflexology have shown to increase vagal modulation and heart rate variability, and decrease the “fight or flight” sympathetic response. Thus assisting the reduction of stress and anxiety.
Current research and evidence base
Research involving massage therapy is compelling. It highlights a multitude of benefits. What's interesting, are the physiological processes taking place during and after massage therapy to make these benefits possible.
The vagal nerve interfaces with the parasympathetic nervous system and is often stimulated during massage therapy. This system is one half of the larger system that controls things like heart rate and cortisol release. Stimulating the vagal nerve can therefore slows these systems leading to a relaxed, reduced stress state.
In 2009, a review conducted by T. Field et al. Titled: "Cortisol decreases and serotonin and dopamine increases following massage therapy." Looked at research studying the stress effects of depression, sexual abuse, pain syndromes, immune conditions, the stress of jobs, aging and pregnancy. The review concluded that overall, as a result of massage therapy, cortisol decreased by an average of 31%, whilst serotonin and dopamine increased by an average of 28% and 31% respectively. For full article click here
The vagal nerve interfaces with the parasympathetic nervous system and is often stimulated during massage therapy. This system is one half of the larger system that controls things like heart rate and cortisol release. Stimulating the vagal nerve can therefore slows these systems leading to a relaxed, reduced stress state.
In 2009, a review conducted by T. Field et al. Titled: "Cortisol decreases and serotonin and dopamine increases following massage therapy." Looked at research studying the stress effects of depression, sexual abuse, pain syndromes, immune conditions, the stress of jobs, aging and pregnancy. The review concluded that overall, as a result of massage therapy, cortisol decreased by an average of 31%, whilst serotonin and dopamine increased by an average of 28% and 31% respectively. For full article click here