What does it mean to have chronic pain?
The National Institutes for Health defines chronic pain as any pain that lasts for more than 12 weeks, though it can persist much, much longer. Like acute pain, it may stem from an injury, but chronic pain continues long past the normal healing time for the initial injury.
Another cause of chronic pain may be an illness or a condition, such as fibromyalgia or endometriosis. In some people’s cases, no known cause exists.
Chronic pain sufferers may experience additional challenging health problems, including:
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbance
- Decreased appetite
- Mood changes
Chronic pain often creates a vicious cycle, where the pain causes sleep disturbances, which result in mood swings, which creates fatigue, which makes pain harder to bear. And on and on….
Many people struggling to manage chronic pain find that holistic health remedies like massage help alleviate their symptoms. One of the benefits of Shiatsu massage therapy is that it can be effective in treating chronic pain.
- Stress Relief. Deep tissue massage is a great stress reliever. …
- Reduces Pain. …
- Lowers Blood Pressure and Heart Rate. …
- Breaks Up Scar Tissue & Makes Movement Easier. …
- Reduces Arthritis Symptoms. …
- Rehabilitates Injured Muscles. …
- Helps With Labor and Delivery.
While massage has typically been considered alternative medicine, doctors are increasingly prescribing it as part of standard treatment for many different medical conditions.
That’s according to the Mayo Clinic, which cites the effectiveness of massage as a treatment for reducing stress, pain, and muscle tension. The reduction of stress is an essential element of longevity based on the research of Blue Zones, areas in the world whose residents have the longest life expectancies. In these regions around the world, people share nine common lifestyle habits: Physical activity, a sense of belonging, eating a mostly plant-based diet, never overeating, putting family first, enjoying a glass of wine or two per day, having a purpose in life, have faith, unwind from stress and spend time with others who practice similar habits.
“We have so much stress worked up in our bodies — you can’t stay on top of it by just getting a massage every once in a while,” said Karen Taylor, owner of Simply Massage, with locations in Vail, Avon, Breckenridge and Glenwood Springs. “Continually working on the body gives it more of a chance to stay in shape.”
Here are some of the benefits that regular massages can have on overall health, wellness, and longevity.
Focus and mental clarity
Research published in the International Journal of Neuroscience shows that massage therapy increases serotonin and dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centers, while serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps relay messages from one area of the brain to another — influencing mood, sexual desire and function, appetite, sleep, memory, and learning. Massage therapy also decreases the stress hormone cortisol.
“Massages are excellent for clearing the mind and turning off that fight or flight response,” “It helps cleanse those emotions.”
Recent studies have shown that massage stimulates activity in the left side of the brain, which is the side that is most active when a person is pleased, happy, or excited. The right side of the brain, in contrast, is often activated when an individual is sad, stressed, or depressed. When feeling happy and motivated, individuals are more capable of producing their best work, as opposed to when they are sad and discouraged.
Tight neck and shoulder muscles often limit the circulation to the brain, which consequently does not support memory or concentration. Also, when massage relaxes tense muscles, it eases stress, which also benefits thinking and efficient work. Positive emotions typically are related to better thinking and memory, whereas negative emotions are associated with pessimistic thinking and less concentration.
Stress relief and relaxation
Massage can stimulate activity in the left side of the brain, which is associated with pleasure, happiness, and excitement. For occupational stress — the main cause of stress for most Americans — massage therapy has been proven to reduce stress and promote mental health, according to research published by the National Institutes of Health.
- Reducing stress and increasing relaxation.
- Reducing pain and muscle soreness and tension.
- Improving circulation, energy, and alertness.
- Lowering heart rate and blood pressure.
- Improving immune function.
Should you get a massage if you are in pain?
- Schedule smartly. …
- Pump down the volume. …
- Watch your diet. …
- Stay hydrated. …
- Dress the part. …
- Invest in regular massage. …
- Avoid strenuous activity. …
- Extend your “me” time.
- Not Drinking Enough Water. After massage therapy, decreasing your water intake after the massage therapy is not ideal. …
- Take A Shower Immediately. …
- Taking Hot Shower. …
- Eating A Large Meal. …
- Drinking Coffee. …
- Drinking Alcohol. …
- Doing Strenuous Exercise or Activities. …
- Stressing Yourself Out.
- Deep tissue massage. Deep tissue massage is an aggressive form of massage that uses slow strokes and deep finger pressure to release tension from your muscles and connective tissues. …
- Swedish massage. …
- Neuromuscular massage. …
- Myofascial release. …
- Hot stone massage.
For more of a general tuneup, or for stress relief, every 4-6 weeks is the average time frame. Ultimately, “It depends on your needs, and that could even be one or twice per year.” Another factor to consider is how often you are using your body. I personally get 1 1/2 hrs of deep painful massage every week to keep me going.
- Fever. Anytime you have a fever, whether, from a cold, the flu, or some other infection, you should not get a massage. …
- Contagious Diseases. …
- Blood Clots. …
- Pregnancy. …
- Kidney Conditions or Liver Conditions. …
- Cancer. …
- Inflammation. …
- Uncontrolled Hypertension.
- Stress Relief. Deep tissue massage is a great stress reliever. …
- Reduces Pain. …
- Lowers Blood Pressure and Heart Rate. …
- Breaks Up Scar Tissue & Makes Movement Easier. …
- Reduces Arthritis Symptoms. …
- Rehabilitates Injured Muscles. …
- Helps With Labor and Delivery.

- Lingering Pain. Due to the pressurized techniques used in a deep tissue massage, some people have suffered from some version of pain during and/or after their therapy session. …
- Headaches/Migraines. …
- Fatigue or Sleepiness. …
- Inflammation. …
- Nausea.
- One hour of massage equates to 7-8 hours of sleep on the body.
- There are approximately 5 million touch receptors in our skin – 3,000 in a fingertip.
- Muscles are made up of bundles from about 5 in the eyelid to about 200 in the buttock muscles.
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*Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider.
Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.
The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a diagnosis, treatment, or prescription of any kind. The decision to use, or not to use, any information is the sole responsibility of the reader. These statements are not expressions of legal opinion relative to the scope of practice, medical diagnosis, or medical advice, nor do they represent an endorsement of any product, company, or specific massage therapy technique, modality, or approach. All trademarks, registered trademarks, brand names, registered brand names, logos, and company logos referenced in this post are the property of their owners.