Relieving Stress With Massage Therapy

At one point in life, stress may come upon us and take siege of our minds and bodies.
Stress in universal, and not always is stress bad. Stress can boost your adrenaline, increasing
your heart rate and the cortisol boosting your blood sugar, which can improve your mood
before a big work meeting, or give you the alert feeling after slamming on the breaks in time
to avoid a car accident. The mechanics of stress diverts energy away from the digestive
system and immune responses, giving us the instantaneous, fight or flight reflex we have
ingrained in our biological make-up since prehistoric times. Stress can however produce long
term harmful effects, and constant stress causes distress. Distress can form into physical
symptoms such as: headaches, upset stomach, high blood pressure, chest pain, and insomnia.
All most every single symptom listed by the American Psychological Association can
benefit with treatment by massage therapy. Through research, massage therapy has shown:

Lower heart rate and blood pressure

Relaxed muscles
Increases in endorphin, serotonin, and dopamine levels

In a study on the effect of trigger point therapy , there was a significant decrease in heart rate,
systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. Measures of oxygen consumption,
blood pressure, and salivary cortisol levels were all lower after a 10 to 15 minute chair
massage in controlled studies. Changes in physchological states have been measured by
physiological respsonses: the Perceived Stress Scale, the POMS Depression Scale, and the
Anxiety State Scale.
Maintaining optimum health should be your top priority. The addition of massage therapy,
will allow you to not only feel good, but look and and be healthier in the future. Stress relief
can improve the vitality of your mind.
If you are looking for a way to bust out stress for good, and add it to a routine wellness plan,
our massage therapists at Triangle Physiotherapy can be a powerful ally when combating
daily stress and anxiety. Not only does massage therapy relieve stress, ongoing it can reduce
pain, increase energy levels, and improve overall physical and mental performance. Our
experienced, professional massage therapists at Triangle Physiotherapy at our five locations,
Etobicoke, Oakville, Mississauga, Toronto, and Kings West customize every massage session
to address your individual needs.
References:

Delaney, J.P., Leong, K.S., Watkins, A., & Brodie, D. (2002). The short-term effects
of myofascial trigger point massage therapy on cardiac autonomic tone in healthy
subjects. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 37, 364-71.

Boone, T., Tanner, M., & Radosevich, A. (2001). Effects of a 10-minute back rub on
cardiovascular responses in healthy subjects. American Journal of Chinese Medicine.
29, 47-52.
Cady, S. H., & Jones, G. E. (1997). Massage therapy as a workplace intervention for
reduction of stress. Perceptual & Motor Skills, 84, 157-158.
Field, T., Ironson, G., Scafidi, F., Nawrocki, T., Goncalves, A., Burman, I., Pickens, J.,
Fox, N., Schanberg, S., & Kuhn, C. (1996). Massage therapy reduces anxiety and
enhances EEG pattern of alertness and math computations.
International Journal of Neuroscience, 86, 197-205.
Brennan, M.K. & DeBate, R. (2004).The effect of chair massage on stress perception
of hospital bedside nurses. Massage Therapy Journal 43, (1), 76-86.
Field, T., Quintino, O., Henteleff, T., Wells-Keife, L., & Delvecchio-Feinberg, G.
(1997). Job stress reduction therapies. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine,
3, (4), 54-56.
MacDonald, G. (1998). Massage offers respite for primary care givers. The American
Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care, Jan/Feb, 43-47.
Cady, S. H. & Jones, G. E. (1997). Massage therapy as a workplace intervention for
reduction of stress. Perceptual & Motor Skills, 84(1), 157-158.
Visit
Triangle Physiotherapy http://www.trianglephysiotherapy.com
Massage Therapy - http://www.trianglephysiotherapy.com/services/massagetherapy