When people think of the benefits of massage, they often think of tension or muscle strain. However, it is the position of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) that massage can be an effective therapy for those who suffer from tension headaches.
According to the Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology: “By far the most common type of [tension-type] headache people experience (90-92%), these are triggered by muscular tension, bony misalignment, postural patterns, eyestrain, temporomandibular joint disorders, myofascial pain syndrome, ligament irritation, or other musculosketetal imbalances. Tension-type headaches may also be described as episodic (happening fewer than 15 times per month) or chronic (happening more than 15 times per month).” Also, stated in the reference: “For the most common tension-type headaches, massage is resoundingly indicated. These episodes are an excellent opportunity to demonstrate how many seemingly disconnected postural and movement patterns can create pain in an entirely different area of the body.”
At Better Body Spa, our licensed massage therapists are trained to identify trigger points or muscle knots, like for example, the suboccipital muscles of the neck, an area that often is the cause of tension headaches. Depending on each person’s unique needs and threshold for pain, our therapists will gently apply pressure, heat and/or deep soothing strokes to alleviate the pain. Our massage treatments seek to not only provide tension relief and relaxation but to identify and rectify the source of the problem.
Massage works by deep tissue, muscle and bone manipulation, focusing on pressure points and damaged areas of the body. This, in turn, sends signals to the brain which promotes healing and increased activity in blood flow and circulation. After just a few sessions, many patients see immediate improvements in overall health, wellbeing and a significant reduction in headache frequency and intensity.
American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) states, “Research has shown that in respect to tension headaches massage can:
- reduce depression and/or anxiety
- decrease perceived pain
- decrease anger status
- decrease tension
- reduce frequency
- reduce intensity
- reduce duration
- decrease medication usage
- increase range of cervical motion
Many patients gain significant relief from headaches and migraines with regular and professional health massages. Call or Book Online: (954) 909-9065 or www.BetterBodySpa.com.