Massage For Seniors: Healthy Aging Benefits

Massage For Seniors: Healthy Aging Benefits

Massage for Seniors: Feeling Good at Any Age

Massage for seniors is incredibly helpful in maintain flexibility and movement. It also helps reduce stress and anxiety.

Therapeutic massage can help you feel good at any age, including seniors. It is especially beneficial as you grow older.

Massage can:

  • improve general health
  • address problem conditions
  • improve sleep
  • enhance quality of life

Challenges of Aging

Even though aging is a normal life process, there are things we can do to lessen the effects and slow the process.

Some physical effect of aging include:

  • decrease in general mobility
  • decrease in muscular strength
  • slower nerve conduction
  • less tissue elasticity
  • thinner and drier skin
  • loss of bone mass
  • decreased function of the senses
  • less efficient immune system

Chronic stress and inactivity can accelerate the aging process. Luckily, therapeutic massage combats both of these issues.

Related: Arthritis and Massage Therapy

Benefits of Massage for Seniors and the Elderly

Enhances General Health

Massage can be introduced to any health maintenance plan at any age. It helps keep the body and mind functioning optimally.

Massage Reduces the Negative Effects of Stress

As mentioned above, stress and anxiety can accelerate the aging process. Massage can help reduce the physical and mental effects of these debilitating conditions.

The elderly are particularly at risk because of:

  • accumulated losses
  • frustrations
  • possible isolation
  • lack of human touch
  • loss of independence

Massage for Seniors helps to:

  • enhance general relaxation
  • reduce muscular tension and associated discomfort
  • reduce anxiety
  • improve sleep
  • increase feeling of well-being

Mobility and Independence

Massage for seniors can help you keep the flexibility and strength needed to accomplish the activities of every day life. For example:

  • getting up out of a chair
  • walking
  • climbing stairs
  • driving a car
  • getting in an out of the bathtub or shower

Massage for Seniors Supports Fitness Programs

Regular exercise and movement is vital to lifelong fitness and slowing the aging process. Therapeutic Massage can be an important addition to an exercise routine. Benefits include:

  • Reducing injury and soreness
  • Relaxes tight muscles
  • Relieves muscle aches and stiffness
  • Speeds recovery from exercise

A Caring Touch

For seniors who are home bound, have lost independence and loved ones, massage can provide a caring touch. It also provides personal interaction and communication.

Related: Types of Massage and What to Expect During a Massage

Massage therapist can visit you in your home or residence or you can visit their office to receive a massage. Which ever is easiest for you.

Please check with your medical health provider first before getting a massage.

Also, please read our article on Massage for Alzheimer’s Patients and Dementia Care, as massage can be very helpful with this disease.

Schedule  A Massage Today

I have experience with massage for seniors and elderly care. I am also a cancer survivor and have extensive experience and a passion for helping cancer patients and survivors. Discounts are available for cancer patients, survivors and veterans. Call today to find out more information. 517-898-2899

massage for seniors


References:

Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging. Creagan, E., MD., editor. Rosetta Books, 2014

Ayarti, M. and Azarani, A. Paths to Healthy Aging. Amazon Digital Services. 2014

Rose, M.K. Comfort Touch: Massage for the Elderly and Ill. Baltimore: LWW, 2009

Therapeutic Massage for Healthy Aging by Patricia J. Benjamin, Ph.D. and Victoria Carmona.

Fibromyalgia Relief with Massage

Fibromyalgia Relief with Massage

Do You Have Fibromyalgia?

If you have Fibromyalgia, or you suspect you do, you know all too well the frustrating pain that comes and goes and moves around. It doesn’t help that your pain is compounded by the negative effects of everyday stress.

Pain is stressful. It’s a vicious cycle.

Massage can help break that cycle.

Massage as part of your Fibromyalgia treatment planFibromyalgia and massage

Not only can massage help with the pain of Fibromyalgia, but research studies confirm that massage helps calm the nervous system, reduces anxiety, and improves sleep.

At this time, there is no known cure for Fibromyalgia. Each patient is different and treatment plans can include a combination of therapies to relieve symptoms.

Massage is a natural remedy for treating some of the major symptoms and is backed by sound research studies.

The benefits of therapeutic massage for Fibromyalgia suffers include:

The Best Time for Massage for Fibromyalgia

The symptoms of Fibromyalgia can vary from mild to severe. Some patients find massage helpful even during severe flare-ups. Others prefer to wait until their pain is at a lower level to receive massage. Your health care provider and massage therapist may be able to help you decide, but ultimately you know what is best for you!

Call me today to discuss your symptoms and how massage therapy can help! 517.898.2899

Add Chair Massage to Your Company Wellness Program

Add Chair Massage to Your Company Wellness Program

Chair Massage is a Good Investment for a Healthy Business

Chair Massage is a great addition to any wellness program.

A growing number of businesses are providing wellness programs in the workplace. Naturally, employees who are healthy and manage their stress are more productive on the job.

Stress is one of the biggest reasons for illness and lost time at work. By being proactive toward battling stress and achieving optimum physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, businesses can help their employees and their bottom line.

Prevention is an essential part of wellness – catching potential problems before they cause disease or disability. Workplace wellness programs have been found to cut down on worker’s compensation claims and reduce time-off for employee illness and injury.

On-site chair massage is a convenient, safe, and cost-effective addition to any workplace wellness plan. It helps boost employee morale, and provides valuable health benefits too. All sizes and kinds of businesses from small offices to large companies can benefit from on-site chair massage services.

Workplace Stress and Health Problems

Some of the most serious and costly health problems in the workplace include:

  • high levels of stress
  • physical problems associated with sitting at workstations for long periods of time
  • repetitive use injuries

High stress is associated with many diseases and has been found to impair the immune system, leaving workers more vulnerable to illness.

Employers lose money because of:

  • lower productivity
  • lost work days
  • worker’s compensation claims
  • other health care expenses

Chair Massage Can Help Reduce Workplace Stress

Massage has been in use for a long time and has been proven to reduce the effects of stress and relieve muscular aches and pains.

It is now available in a more convenient form, the chair massage, which can be brought right into the work site. It is fast becoming a popular addition to workplace wellness programs as more employers recognize the benefits.

Benefits of Chair Massage

  • Reduces the physical and mental effects of stress, helping reduce burnout and stress-related disease
  • Reduces the adverse effects of sitting for long periods of time in the same position, such as at a desk or other workstation.
  • Relives physical problems associated with repetitive tasks, for example, computer work, sorting, filing, and assembly line tasks.
  • Improves alertness and the ability to focus, an antidote for work slumps
  • Helps relieve common problem conditions such as tension headaches and stiff and sore muscles.
  • Increases employee morale
  • Leaves employees feeling revitalized and ready to return to work.

This type of massage is very popular with employers and employees for several reasons:

  • You feel better right away with immediate positive effects
  • It requires no effort on the part of the receiver
  • It is an easy health practice to take advantage of
  • It complements other wellness programs
  • It works for everybody, from the corporate office to the warehouse to the mail room

How Does On-site Chair Massage Work?

Chair massage can offer the benefits of massage in public places like the workplace. During a chair massage, the recipient is seated and fully clothed. The massage therapist uses techniques which can be given though clothing and the session focuses on:

  • upper body
  • head
  • neck
  • shoulders
  • back
  • arms

Sessions usually last 10-20 minutes, the length of a typical work break.

Additional things to know about chair massage:

  • no oil is used
  • addresses common problems of today’s workers
  • can be given at the workstation or in any available small space

Onsite chair massage does not require a private room, but rather an out of the way quieter space like the corner of a conference room. The massage therapist will bring a special chair designed specifically for on-site chair massage.

Bringing On-site Chair massage to the Workplace

There are many options to bringing chair massage into the workplace wellness program. You will get the best results through regular sessions in an ongoing program. Chair massages can also be provided periodically for special occasions:

  • Regular (weekly or monthly) on-site chair massage for all workers
  • Special occasions such as holidays, birthdays, and national secretary’s day
  • As a break during long training sessions or meetings
  • As a reward for good work, reaching goals, or completing projects
  • In times of special stress such as near-deadlines or during peak work periods

To get an on-site chair massage program started for your Lansing, Michigan area workplace, call All Body Kneads today at 517-898-2899.

Additional Contact information.


Source: Benefits of On-site Massage by Patricia J. Benjamin, PhD.