Benefits of Massage Therapy for the Elderly
What is the first thing that comes to our mind when we talk about massage therapy? Relaxation and a powerful way to de-stress. This is true. But apart from that, massage therapy offers countless benefits to people of different age groups and with various health issues. Let’s take, for instance, elders. Older adults feel much better with massage therapy even beyond jrelaxation. Let’s understand why older adults need regular massages.
Increases Blood Flow
As people age, blood circulation slows down, and blood flow to every limb decreases. Reduced blood flow results in excessive numbness, pain in limbs, and stiffness in muscles. It also happens to be due to a less active lifestyle. The biggest benefit of massage therapy is that it increases blood circulation and ensures that blood flows to all extremities efficiently. It also helps to soften muscles and tissues and eventually reducing overall muscle tension.
Relieves Stress and Anxiety
Seniors can experience stress and anxiety for countless reasons at this stage in their lives. Some of the most common issues associated with stress include headaches, migraines, hypertension, muscle tension, and depression. Massage therapy decreases the unhealthy buildup of cortisol – a stress hormone, in the body, allowing the body to relax and rejuvenate. Regular massage therapy sessions can also increase serotonin and endorphins levels, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression.
Enhances Quality of Sleep
Massage therapy puts the overall body in relaxation and it also enhances the quality of sleep. It can help to resolve sleep deprivation too. Older adults who receive regular massages get a sound nights sleep for many hours.
Helps With Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, occurs when the flexible tissue at the end of bones wears down. When muscle stiffness is reduced seniors can move their body more freely. Massage therapy improves physical function over a few months of regular massage sessions. Regular massages relieve pain in affected areas, slows the progression of osteoarthritis, provides more joint flexibility, and decreases swelling.
Increases Overall Flexibility
Massage therapy increases flexibility, as we mentioned earlier, when loosening tight muscles and joints and soothes any muscle inflammation, enabling a wider range of motion in the activities of daily living.
Massage therapy for approximately thirty minutes every week by a professional physiotherapy will help you or your parents make a healthy step towards well-being and stress-free living.
