For years I have been using massage as a way of making my physical therapy more effective. That seems strange, right? Use one service to do another… but the reality is that both are medical services. I have traveled from Newport County, Rhode Island into Connecticut for years for this service, but fortunately now we have someone right in Paragon Body Art Pawtucket at the Hope Artiste Village of Pawtucket who is accepting new clients for massage services. She even has a first-time client special. We couldn’t be in a better location – just minutes from the Eastside of Providence, less than an hour from Boston, and minutes off the highway. Talk about convenience.
Did you know there is an actual massage therapist shortage in the State of Rhode Island?
Thanks to COVID-19, many enrolled students did not finish their massage training, creating major competition for those available slots. I tried for 3 weeks to get an appointment with a masseuse after work to no avail, so back to Northeastern Connecticut I went. The time before that I went to Southeastern Massachusetts.
As a migraine sufferer my entire life, I have tried everything. Standard medications don’t work, acupuncture worked very short-term, and sometimes there just seems like no end in sight, but there are things that make the migraines more manageable. Chiropractic care, anti-inflammatory diet, physical therapy, and massage are all a part of my regular migraine management.
Don’t believe me? Look at these statistics…
Around 60% of US adults have received massage therapy for medical or health concerns. 57% of US adults have received massage therapy for relaxation or stress reduction. 41% of US adults have received massage therapy services in a spa or salon. Massage is a natural pain killer, why not use it?
So, in addition to migraine, what other illnesses can massage help manage?
Here are just a few:
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Depression
- Digestive disorders
- Prenatal Stress
- Lymphedema
- Fibromyalgia
- Sports injuries
- Insomnia
- Nerve pain unspecified
- Sciatica
- Postoperative care
- Carpal tunnel
- Scar tissue
- Soft tissue strains and injuries
- Temporomandibular (TMJ) disorders
In many cases, with the proper diagnosis, massage can be covered by flex spending and health savings accounts.
So, we all know that after a massage you may sleep better and help you be more relaxed, but what about all the other health benefits?
- Improved circulation
- More flexibility and less stiffness
- Muscle recovery
- Reduced pain and soreness
- Improved mood
- Increased energy
- Stronger immune system
So, is having lower blood pressure and less anxiety a luxury, or a necessity? What about less pain; shouldn’t we all have that luxury? Instead of seeing massage as a luxury item, consider it an investment in your health and wellness. Schedule your massages at regular intervals and especially when you are experiencing any health concerns. There are absolutely no long-term negative impacts experienced by regular massage, as opposed to regular medication usage. So, what do you have to lose?
Thank you for reading why you should invest in yourself and your health with this so-called “luxury” services.
-Autumn