5 Ways Massage Therapy Benefits Seniors

Nowadays, massage therapy is more popular than ever. Millions of Americans rely on it for pain relief, injury recovery, and relaxation. This treatment benefits people of all ages, including elderly patients. Many retirements centers and clinics provide massage therapy to help seniors enjoy a better quality of life, improved mobility, and general well-being. Studies indicate that regular massage can relieve the symptoms caused by chronic ailments, boost cardiovascular health, and increase lifespan.

Want to find out more? Here are five ways massage therapy benefits seniors:

Natural Pain Relief

This non-invasive therapy eases muscle and joint pain while increasing your range of motion. The techniques used in massage, such as kneading, stroking, and stretching, relieve muscle tension and trigger points. Massage therapy also boosts the feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain, which helps reduce the perception of pain. In the long run, it may decrease the need for NSAIDs and analgesics.

Promotes Mental Health

A growing body of research suggests that massage therapy can improve the symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease, such as anxiety, verbal agitation, and memory problems. Currently, more than 5.3 million Americans are struggling with this condition. Regular massage reduces anxiety of confusion, increases alertness, and reinforces feelings of worthiness and well-being.

Increases Flexibility and Range of Motion

One of the primary benefits of massage lies in its ability to improve range of motion and joint flexibility. This therapy relieves arthritis pain and restores mobility, and keeps the joints supple. It also helps with chronic neck pain, lower back sciatica pain, and fibromyalgia.

Improves Balance

Falling is a common problem among seniors. Arthritis, osteoporosis, and Parkinson’s disease only make things worse. Massage therapy improves balance in elderly patients by increasing blood flow to the limbs and enhancing proprioception. On top of that, it boosts motor skills and help fix postural problems, which reduces the chances of falling.

Speeds Up Recovery

Regular massage has been shown to ease stroke recovery and relive the symptoms linked to this condition, such as shoulder pain, high blood pressure, and anxiety. For this reason, it is often used as an alternative adjunct to pharmacological treatment.