Limited mobility comes in many forms. Someone may find it difficult to move around as a result of sore knees, hips, muscles and other areas of the body that for one reason or another do not seem to function as effectively as they might have at a younger age. Others may not be able to move from stiffness and discomfort resulting from arthritis. The inability to achieve a full range of motion can cause not only physical, but mental issues with the sufferer. The failure to move from one location to another can lead to mental fatigue and frustrations as someone is no longer able perform their normal daily activities. However, there are different ways to improve mobility despite these restrictions. While physical therapy and medication can assist in improving mobility, massage therapy can help treat patients with mobility restrictions and facilitate different means of movement.
Improved Circulation
One of the primary advantages of massage therapy is the improvement of circulation. Improved circulation helps a wide array of health problems, from heart disease all the way to seasonal allergies. It also helps with mobility. Most people suffering from mobility issues experienced muscle damage. The best way to repair the damage done to the muscles is to increase circulation. This increased blood flow delivers more essential vitamins and minerals throughout the body, in addition to a higher blood flow level. The increased blood flow and circulation helps improve overall performance levels, which allows for better movement and mobility, in addition to repairing damage previously done to the sore areas of the body. For those who suffer from lymphatic issues or lactic acid buildup around the body (which can cause cold extremeties), the boost in circulation ushers away the buildups and improves these areas of the body as well.
Flexibility
Flexibility is a major improvement stemmed from a professional massage. While this doesn't make up completely for daily stretching, it should allow for a increased degree of flexibility in the days and weeks after a treatment. This greater flexibility makes it more comfortable to move around, especially for those patients suffering from stiffness-related mobility issues. Although flexibility may not prove extremely beneficial for others with arthritis and similar medical problems, a greater range of flexibility is what patients need most when suffering from tightness in their body.
Pinched Nerve or Knot
Over time, an individual may experience pinched nerves or large knots in their muscles. A knot typically occurs after performing a certain task for hours at a time on a regular basis (such as sitting at a desk). While knots are painful, the pinched nerve can become especially devastating and prevent many kinds of motions. For someone who is unable to turn their necks or struggle with standing up straight due to the pain they feel, a massage can be all that is required. The massage therapist is able to relieve the knot and soften the muscle, reducing the pain. This also helps reduce the tension put on the nerves, allowing the pinched nerved to decompress and relieve the tension placed on it. Depending on the severity of the knot or nerve, it may take several sessions to fully remove the pain and tension, but after a single session, patients should experience an almost instantaneous reduction in their pain levels and a boost in mobility.
There are a number of different ways massage therapy can improve the overall wellbeing of the person receiving the massage. From improving their mobility to reducing heart disease symptoms, there is a benefit for everyone and it really is a sign as to why everyone should look into regularly experiencing a professional. Your body will thank you!
Book your appointment today and start feeling better!