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The Benefits of Massage Therapy for the Office Workers

What benefits can massage bring for the office workers?

by Kristiana Yakimova

The improvised home offices cause pain and worsen the posture. The regular massages can counteract the imbalance caused by the sitting, relieve the desk-related pain, and minimise the risk of burnout. The massage therapies exert a positive impact on the physical, mental, and emotional well-being. They improve the blood circulation and relieve the stress that accumulates due to the maintenance of the same posture during the long working hours. The prolonged sitting in front of a bright screen undoubtedly tires, stresses, and increases the risk of adverse effects on your health.

According to a study conducted in the UK in September 2020, over 60% of the people working from home experience pain due to their improvised home offices. The study indicates that the pain is mostly in the back, neck, hips, knees, and wrists. Only 30% of those working from home have a dedicated workspace. About 18% of them work from a sofa or an armchair, 17% from the dining area or a kitchen chair, and 12% from their bed. More than 20% of the home office workers report that they often hunch over while typing on their computer, 23% balance their laptop on their lap, and 21% sit with twisted backs or legs.

Whether you work in the office, or from home, the regular massage therapies can alleviate your overall tension, pain, and stress, and increase your feelings of happiness and well-being.

The massages reduce muscle pain

If you have sore muscles, a massage will undoubtedly help. The massage therapy increases and improves the microcirculation. A 2011 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine established that the benefits of the massage therapy are as effective as the other treatment methods for chronic back pain.

Massages can improve posture

Many people try to cope with some form of postural stress, which often manifests in the shoulders and the neck. The desk workers have more advanced forms of postural stress, such as a pain or weakness in the lower back and the glutes that results from the prolonged sitting.

Our bodies are in perfect balance when we stand upright. However, sitting in various positions hour after hour, day after day, strains certain muscles and allows others to become lazy and inactive. These muscles develop a postural “memory”, which continues long after the desk work is completed. Correcting the posture can help alleviate the nagging pain behind the shoulder blade, the stiff neck, the shoulder pain, the headaches, and the migraines.

The therapy with a qualified kinesiotherapist specialising in therapeutic massage is a fantastic way to deal with hunching. The repeated massage sessions can help reduce the pain and tension in the stiff muscles. The kinesiotherapists explain that the massage can awaken the weaker and the less active muscles, balance the working posture, and relieve the discomfort in the long run.

Alternating the massages with some daily exercises such as stretching and opening the chest and the shoulders is key to dealing with the poor posture and the discomfort resulting from the prolonged sitting.

The massages reduce anxiety and depression

The Swedish massage therapy is known to be most effective when dealing with anxiety and depression. The tight deadlines and urgent presentations increase the anxiety, which often leads to depression in some employees. When you are stressed, you are not able to handle a task in the best possible way. It has been proven that men suffer from depression more intensely compared to women.

Moreover, the touch in the various massage techniques can be incredibly therapeutic and relaxing. Women diagnosed with breast cancer who underwent a massage therapy three times a week have reported feeling less depressed and less angry according to a 2005 study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience. Another study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has established that the patients who were depressed and anxious felt much calmer and happier, with reduced stress levels after a massage.

The kinesiotherapists advise that in the pandemic conditions, we all face a chronic stress, a daily anxiety, insomnia, headaches, depression, and often panic attacks. Taking care of the mental health is extremely important right now. The massages are a pleasant and painless way to improve both your physical and mental state. And they are also a great opportunity to boost the immune system of the entire body.

The massages improve sleep quality

The massages not only stimulate the sleep, but also help those who otherwise cannot rest peacefully. The massage therapy promotes a good relaxation and a deep sleep for those undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy, according to research. The massages also help the babies sleep more, cry less, and be less stressed, according to a study conducted by the University of Warwick.

The massages boost immunity

A 2010 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that the massage increases the number of the white blood cells of the patients, which plays an important role in the protection of the body from diseases.

The massages regulate the blood pressure

The high blood pressure is increasingly common among the young people due to the stress and the social pressure. The massages reduce the heart rate along with the systolic and the diastolic blood pressure. When the blood pressure is within the normal range, the risks of cardiovascular problems or nervous breakdowns are minimal. Clinical studies have demonstrated that the people who choose massage sessions once or twice a week have a normal blood pressure and a better mental health compared to those who do not go for the regular massages.

The massages relieve the headaches

The massage reduces the frequency and the severity of the tension headaches. The results from studies conducted by the University of Granada in Spain have demonstrated that just one session of massage therapy immediately affects the sensation of pain in the patients with chronic tension headaches.

Sitting in one position for long hours and the constant typing on the keyboard along with the mouse handling can lead to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome. This is a musculoskeletal injury where the body movements are affected due to a poor posture or excessive movement of one part of the body. The symptoms of the condition are most often numbness, weakness in the hand, or a tingling sensation from the inside of the wrist to the thumb. The specialists advise you to conduct a weekly massage therapy when you deal with inflammatory injuries and discomfort.

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