Massage can provide relief for muscle soreness and stress reduction, with studies showing it reduces cortisol levels while increasing serotonin.
How can massage help maximize its benefits? Here are a few tried-and-tested tips to ensure the greatest returns from each massage session.
Drink Plenty of Water
As much as we all understand the importance of staying hydrated, this advice becomes even more crucial after receiving a massage. That’s because massage therapy can be dehydrating, with muscles releasing toxins during kneading that must be flushed from the system in order to prevent headaches, fatigue and other adverse side effects from developing. Without enough water consumed post massage to flush these out properly from your system toxins could accumulate and lead to headaches, fatigue and other negative consequences that will make the experience unpleasant for all involved!
Water is essential in supporting normal cellular processes in the body. Many, such as those involved with breaking down lactic acid and other metabolic wastes, depend on adequate water intake for their effective functioning; when insufficient amounts arrive at once these processes cannot take place and lactic acid and other toxic substances build up in tissues resulting from massage treatments, drinking plenty of water helps ensure all benefits from your massage treatment are realized.
Warm or room temperature water should be preferred over cold for optimal hydration purposes and taste purposes. Lemon water is an excellent way to replenish fluid levels as well as support detoxification processes by stimulating digestion and encouraging healthy bowel function. In addition, lemon water provides vitamin C which acts as an antioxidant that can protect cells against damage while aiding healing processes.
Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine
According to Pine Health Sherwood Park, massage increases circulation, helping provide oxygen and nutrients to tissues and cells throughout the body. Furthermore, massage aids waste product removal while decreasing inflammation.
As a result, your muscles and joints will feel relaxed and rejuvenated after receiving massage therapy. However, it is important to avoid too much movement after getting massaged; excessive movement may cause stiffness and soreness that needs relieving with cold packs or warm baths. Also try limiting heavy lifting or intense exercises for 24 hours after receiving a session for optimal results.
Alcohol and caffeine will tense muscles again and undermine any positive results from massage treatments, so instead it is advised to drink herbal tea or plenty of water to rehydrate the body after receiving massage therapy.
After receiving massage therapy, it’s essential that you eat healthily afterwards. Consuming an abundant supply of fresh fruits and vegetables will aid recovery while fattening foods add unnecessary pounds to your body. Be wary of snacking on unhealthy items that add fat content; opt instead for healthy options with fruits and veggies!
If you’re planning on having a massage prior to an event or sports performance, following these guidelines is recommended for maximum effect. Furthermore, booking regular sessions may help keep muscles looser and flexible and make releasing tightness easier as part of everyday activities.
Avoid Smoking
Smokers often experience reduced benefits from massage as smoking reduces their body’s ability to absorb feel good chemicals released during and after treatments. To maximize the potential benefits of your massage session, try forgoing nicotine for as long as possible if possible, perhaps taking part in activities which stimulate your mind, such as hobby-making or watching scary movies may help release happy hormones and distract from cravings for nicotine.
Studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of massage to alleviate symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, cancer-related fatigue and headaches; and also help decrease symptoms associated with teeth grinding that create TMJ joint pain (TMJ). Furthermore, massage may strengthen immunity as well as increase blood flow to tissues.
Determine how often to receive massage is easy if you talk with your therapist about your lifestyle and reason for needing one. Athletes might benefit from biweekly massage sessions to manage injuries and prevent them from reappearing; others might find a once monthly session sufficient to keep their muscles relaxed and free from tension. Prevention is always better than cure; regular treatments when combined with stretching exercises will provide maximum advantages.
Avoid Excessive Movement
Massages tend to exhaust your body and leave you feeling rundown afterwards, so for optimal results it’s wise to schedule them early in the morning or during a time you know you can sleep quickly afterwards – this allows your body to recover properly from its treatment.
If you’re unsure of when is best for you to get a massage, take into account your lifestyle and what works for you. Some prefer lunch break massages while others opt for after work massages on days off – choosing an optimal time and place will maximize your benefits and ensure an unforgettable massage experience!
When receiving a massage, try to limit any unnecessary movements like pacing or talking during your session with the masseuse. Doing this could become distracting and slow down muscle relaxation – potentially rendering less effective massage results.
As important, it is equally vital that after receiving a massage you do not jump straight into the shower – doing so may disrupt the healing process and even cause dizziness or fainting! For optimal results it is wise to wait several hours before showering so as to maximize its therapeutic value and ensure maximum recovery from your massage session. However, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water afterward as keeping yourself properly hydrated will aid healing of muscles more quickly.
Don’t Get Up Too Quickly
Massage can be an incredible way to relax and treat yourself. It can relieve tension, ease neck and back pain, increase feelings of well-being and have significant health benefits such as decreasing stress hormones while simultaneously increasing feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin production.
Massage has been shown to effectively decrease muscle soreness after exercise, making massage therapy an invaluable aid to anyone who enjoys working out. Studies have also indicated that massaging sore muscles speeds recovery time, making a speedy return to regular workout sessions possible.
Massage therapy is not only useful in relieving soreness; it can also prevent further soreness and stiffness from happening in the future. If you are an athlete or regularly active during certain times of year (for instance holiday shopping season or after participating in outdoor sports activities), consider scheduling regular massage appointments as part of a preventative strategy against tight, sore muscles.
Though a professional massage may provide optimal benefits, you can enhance its effects through self-massage and drinking plenty of water before and after each massage session. For even greater health benefits and hydration, add herbal tea or other natural drinks into your daily diet. Alternatively, purchase results-driven products used by professional massage therapists at home so you can experience many of their same advantages more affordably.
Be Quiet
Many people consider massage a luxurious indulgence; however, massage can actually be part of a tailored medical plan to reduce pain and speed up recovery. Massage also serves as a stress reliever by increasing serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters – this can help ease chronic back pain and is even effective against neck discomfort.
There are various forms of massage, each providing different benefits. But most massage sessions share certain characteristics: relaxing music, comforting aromatherapy scents and dimmed lighting are among these key factors; gentle pressure may also be applied on pain receptors beneath the skin to stimulate vagus nerve stimulation – an integral component in your nervous system.
No matter your conversational style, it is best to remain quiet during a massage session in order to fully relax and reap its full benefits. Furthermore, this allows your therapist to focus on those areas requiring attention without being diverted by conversations between sessions.
Prior to receiving a massage, it is also wise to shower and wear loose, comfortable clothing. A hot bath or shower can soften tissue, making your massage session more efficient. In order to maximize effectiveness of your session, avoid eating close to your appointment since a full belly may cause discomfort during massage therapy sessions.