Massage therapy has long been thought to be for relaxation and pampering, and I’m not disputing that.  What I want people to know is that it has so many more health benefits than just relaxation.  It increases blood circulation, lymphatic drainage and also gets rid of toxins in the body.  It helps people with sleep disorders and is great for people who work there muscles frequently at the gym or with a good home workout.   Researchers are confirming what serious athletes have long believed: Swedish massage immediately after intense exercise helps muscles recover.

To test the validity of this common practice in the sports world, a study was done on a group of athletes.  After an intense exercise one leg was massaged and one was left to rest.  The massaged muscles recovered significantly more function and strength after the four-day trial. Also, the muscles that were not massaged had more damaged muscle fibers and more white blood cells, which can indicate inflammation. The massaged muscles weighed less than the rested muscles, suggesting the massages prevented swelling.

So doesn’t it make sense if we are working hard to get our bodies in shape with a good workout that we would let our muscles know afterward that, although we do want them nice and tight and toned that we also want them to be nice and flexible and recover more quickly.  So make sure you stretch after your workout and make massage a part of your monthly routine.