How Massage Therapy Relieves Stress During the Holidays

Everyone feels stress at some point and the holidays can be a particularly stressful time. Stress can cause headaches, fatigue, sleep problems, anxiety, irritability, depression, and an inability to focus. Massage therapy has been a proven way for stress relief and a chiropractor in Edmonds can help with stress relief.

What Does Massage Therapy Do?

Massage therapy helps with stress relief through a number of different ways, besides just the massage itself. Stress relief comes from a relaxing environment, aromatherapy, and the healing hands of the practitioner. Massage therapy environments are meant for relaxation. There is low lighting with comforting and soft music that allows you to disconnect from the outside world. Your electronics are turned off so you are focusing on the present. If your massage therapy also uses an aromatherapy blend, you get further benefits, such as anti-inflammatory effects. Massages can increase serotonin, dopamine levels and reduce stress level hormones. Along with rebalancing hormones, massages release muscle tension. When stressed, your muscles will tighten in response. When the stress ends, your muscles start to relax. Chronically stressed, your muscles are staying permanently tense. If this continues then you can start to experience joint pains, neck pains, and headaches until your stress is resolved.

Massage Therapy and Visiting a Chiropractor

Chiropractic care can be done in conjunction with massage therapy combining both can help relieve stress even more. Chiropractic care focuses on the hard tissue of the body, such as the joints and vertebrae of the spine. Massages will focus on the soft tissues of the body. By targeting both, you get more complete recovery from injuries and help with stress. For those who experience muscle tension due to stress, chiropractic care can further help eliminate your pain. Massages work well with visiting a chiropractor because of the relaxation factor. After a massage, a chiropractic patient will be less anxious and more relaxed in order for the chiropractor to best do an adjustment. Relaxed muscles don’t pull the joints back out of alignment because of the relief of muscle tension. After you visit a massage therapist, be sure to visit your chiropractor in Edmonds for full treatment.