It can help sore muscles recover faster. Chronic pain sufferers say it gives them relief. It has also been shown to help reduce blood pressure and slow rapid heart beats. Massage Therapy is the most popular form of alternative medicine in the United States with people spending billions of dollars on therapeutic massage every year.

Massage has come a long way from the rub down that followed a workout in the gym. A growing number of physicians are actually prescribing it for a variety of problems finally figuring out what the Chinese discovered thousands of years ago, massage has wonderful healing powers. There are a number of clinical studies which have proven that massage therapy works. The journal Pscychooncology recently published a study which found clinical proof that massage helped reduced stress levels in chemotherapy patients. There have also been clinical studies reported in Australia which have shown that massage therapy reduced anxiety levels in young adults who were confined to a psychiatric unit.

What can Massage Therapy do for you?

  • The benefits include relieving pain and tension.
  • It will reduce inflammation and promote quicker healing from sports related injuries or trauma.
  • It helps to prevent injuries by increasing your flexibility and range of motion. There are a number of professional sports franchises who have hired massage therapists to work with their team trainers to help prevent injuries.
  • Massage increases the circulation of the blood throughout the body and provides a natural boost to your immune system.
  • It is also an excellent way to get relief from the stress of day to day life.

Massage Therapy is now covered by a growing number of insurance policies as companies recognize the benefits. Among the conditions that it is approved for; chronic pain, back pain, carpal tunnel, depression, anxiety, whiplash, arthritis and sleep disorders. While the insurance companies may only pay a percentage of these services or require a co-pay for each visit, they are recognizing the medical benefits of massage therapy. A growing number of large medical practices are hiring their own, in house massage therapist to work with patients and they are also being employed at many Sportsmedicine clinics.

Medical massage therapists must go through an extensive training program by a licensed agency before they can become certified to offer services. In most states, the therapist is licensed by the Department of Health so that you can be sure you are working with a true professional. Most of the states will require a minimum of 500 hours of training before a license will be issued. When you are searching for a therapist, do not be afraid to ask for their resume and referrals. The average price across the country for massage therapy is $60 per hour. There was a time when massage had a bad name because it was being used as a front for prostitution but that is changing. Medical massage has made over its image and now is recognized as a legitimate alternative treatment for a number of health conditions.