Quality sleep is vital to one’s health and wellness. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC): “Insufficient sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions—such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression—which threaten our nation’s health. Notably, insufficient sleep is associated with the onset of these diseases and also poses important implications for their management and outcome. Moreover, insufficient sleep is responsible for motor vehicle and machinery-related crashes, causing substantial injury and disability each year. In short, drowsy driving can be as dangerous—and preventable—as driving while intoxicated.”
Chronic insomnia causes extraordinary weariness and issues concentration, and can adversely influence an individual’s state of mind and prosperity. For healthcare professionals, assisting patients with conquering a sleeping disorder is basic for encouraging in general wellbeing and health. Nutrition and exercise are frequently suggested as the establishment of good wellbeing, yet research shows that quality rest should likewise be important for any all-encompassing treatment. Those who sleep less than 8 hours per night are experiencing “sleep debt,” which cannot be reversed by sleeping more on the weekend.
According to the Mayo Clinic, studies have found massage to be beneficial for insomnia-related stress, as well as:
- Anxiety
- Digestive disorders
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches
- Myofascial pain syndrome
- Paresthesias and nerve pain
- Soft tissue strains or injuries
- Sports injuries
- Temporomandibular joint pain
Benefits of Massage Therapy
The National Institutes of Health has advised that massage therapy can reduce fatigue and improve sleep. In light of exploration assembled by the American Massage Therapy Association, massage has been appeared to improve rest in babies, youngsters, grown-ups, and the elderly alike, as well as individuals with psychiatric disorders, fibromyalgia, cancer, heart disease, lower back pain, cerebral palsy, and breast disease.
The chemistry of sleep is relevant in relation to massage since it straightforwardly impacts the body’s creation of serotonin, which is fundamental for the creation of melatonin. Massage is a keen, solid, and medication-free alternative that has assisted numerous individuals with conquering sleep deprivation. Since melatonin impacts the rest phase of a person’s circadian mood, a characteristic method of boosting serotonin is a positive rest inciting choice.
It may also be possible that massage can help the cerebrum and body to accomplish all the more profound stage 3 rest, which would be ideal, as this is the phase of rest design that takes into consideration recuperating at the cell level, as well as the release of human growth hormone (HGH), so important for overall health and well being.
Generally speaking, any time you apply pressure to the body in a patterned or repetitive way, this results in a massage. It can be gentle or intense, concentrated, or diffuse. Following even the most simple massage, you will notice improved circulation in the area that received the pressure.
Research into therapies for insomnia continues to point to nonpharmaceutical approaches for treatment. Just like cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia or relaxation techniques, a bedtime massage ritual can also be one of the many ways you can address pain and tension issues and achieve better sleep.
Why not attempt a basic nightly massage to see if you notice any changes in how quickly you fall asleep, how you feel waking up, and how well you sleep overall? Science suggests it could help, not only with sleep but with pain management and mood improvement.
