Avoid Joint Pain & Boost Your Immune System with Massage Therapy

While the colder temperatures of the winter season can be wonderfully refreshing in some ways, they can also be problematic in other ways.  Not the least of these is the concern of joint pain, which can make it difficult and uncomfortable to remain as active during the winter season as you may normally be at other times of the year. The best way to avoid joint pain is with massage therapy and you’ll find all the wonderful reasons how this is accomplished in this article!

What Causes Winter Joint Pain?

Winter joint pain can occur for anyone–even those individuals who do not suffer from pre-existing joint conditions and who do not normally experience joint discomfort.  This is attributable to the lower temperature and lower barometric air pressure, which together can cause muscles to constrict and tighten while simultaneously causing the soft tissue around joints to expand. Soft tissue expansion causes pressure and pain that directly affects joint mobility, which in turn causes pain to radiate into constricted muscles. 

This can lead to cramps and spasms, which obviously generates, even more, discomfort and pain. Those of us who already suffer from arthritis, fibromyalgia or other joint issue or injury are more likely to feel even more discomfort as a result of winter weather. No one wants that!

Massage Therapy to the Rescue!

Considering that winter joint pain is largely caused by lower temperatures, it follows naturally that the more active and warm the joints are kept, the less painful they are. However, exercising while you are experiencing joint pain can be uncomfortable, difficult or even impossible. We usually seek to resolve this by moving indoors to someplace warm, like a gym, in order to warm our body, but this transition is not often enough to sufficiently warm all the muscles and joints in our body, and exercise may then only serve to exacerbate any discomfort or pain we experience. 

This is where massage comes in!

Traditional massage techniques work to gently relax the muscles and joints of the body and improve overall circulation, which can help to ensure that the proper levels of blood and oxygen reach all the muscles and soft tissue areas.  Additionally, massage can help to sufficiently lubricate the joints so that they are more comfortable to move in gentle exercises, such as swimming or yoga. This allows us to experience the winter months with very little, or even no, joint discomfort or pain, while also offering the opportunity to pamper ourselves with a well-deserved trip to the spa!

How Massage Can Help Boost the Immune System

Most individuals would readily agree that a professional massage yields numerous benefits for the individual.  Not only is it incredibly relaxing, helping us to recover from stress, but it can help to relax tense muscles.  If that weren’t enough (and for many, it’s definitely plenty), a new study indicates that getting a massage can even be enormously beneficial to your immune system.

Researchers in Los Angeles have uncovered the fact that individuals who receive a forty-five minute massage experience an increased number of lymphocytes–the white blood cells that are critical in defending the body from disease. This study proves that massage not only feels good and brings about relaxation, but it is also good for one’s immune system and body.

Researchers discovered that individuals who receive a forty-five minute massage experience measurable physical changes, such as a lower level of cytokines, which can contribute to inflammation and are often associated with asthma, depression and cardiovascular disease.  Massages also seem to work well to decrease the individual’s levels of cortisol and vasopressin, hormones that are related to stress and aggressive behavior.

Nearly nine percent of all American adults reported that they had at least one massage within the past year, and they often turn to massages as a natural part of a healthy lifestyle.  Despite this, there has not been much scientific proof before now that massages are actually so beneficial that they can actually improve an individual’s immune response.  This may explain why some individuals feel a little better–as though they have recovered from a subtle illness after they have received a massage.  It certainly provides you with another very good reason for scheduling regular massages though!

Contact Botanica Day Spa today and discover the power of massage therapy for joint pain and a stronger immune system at 727-441-1711 or book online!

Love,

Gen