Registered Massage Therapy
Registered Massage Therapy is a respected health care profession in British Columbia. Governed by the
College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC), Registered Massage Therapists (RMT) practice within the Health Care Professions Act and provide hands-on treatments to assist in the achievement and maintenance of optimal health.
Benefits of Massage Therapy
Registered Massage Therapy is an ideal form of treatment that is non-invasive of the body in regards to muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, and the spine. Many things - such as poor posture, poor workplace ergonomics, lack of proper movement, weak muscles, sports injuries, or motor vehicle accidents - can have a negative impact on these bodily structures, leading to complications of discomfort. Massage therapy works directly to help with postural imbalances, aid in the proper alignment and movement of joints, increase circulation, and improve the recovery of soft tissue injuries. By working to correct and provide relief from these issues, while also mechanically relaxing the area and positively stimulating nerve fibers, massage therapy can help to decrease pain and muscle tension.
Indirectly, massage therapy also provides holistic healing by affecting the body’s hormones and neurotransmitters. This contributes to the health of various systems within the body, including the nervous system, the cardiovascular system, the endocrine system - which regulates hormones, and the digestive system. An example of this holistic effect would be the feelings of calmness and deep relaxation that follow a massage. These occur as a result of the massage stimulation the release of endorphins from the brain, which in turn gives us a feeling of wellbeing and peace.
Massage therapy can help stimulate your lymphatic system. Your lymphatic system has a variety of functions outside of your immune response too. It works to maintain body fluid levels and aid in digestion by boosting absorption and the disposal of waste.
Hormonal Benefits of Massage Therapy
Studies also indicate that massage treatments can help to decrease the stress hormones adrenaline, cortisol, and norepinephrine. These three hormones, when in increased amounts, have been shown to have various negative impacts on the body such as impairing the immune system as well as increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Thus, by reducing the amounts of these stress hormones in the body to a normal level, massage therapy can also help prevent disease and boost immune response.
When cortisol is in decline, it elicits an increase in the production of serotonin. Serotonin is an important hormone for regulating emotions. It stabilizes mood and increases feelings of wellbeing and happiness. As a result, massage therapy can be a beneficial treatment for reducing anxiety and depression. Serotonin will also work to aid in other processes throughout the body, such as regulating your sleep schedule and boosting digestion.
Benefits of Massage for Seniors
For older adults, massage therapy can also provide a wide range of benefits. Regular massages can help improve balance and increase range of motion, reducing the likelihood of injuries as a result of a fall and improving their overall quality of life. It can also help reduce pain from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. On a hormonal level, massage therapy can help and regulate reduce blood pressure while also increasing memory as a result of an increase in serotonin. Older adults with more serious issues may also find that massage therapy can help improve the quality of life while in hospice care or may even temper the symptoms of dementia for day-to-day relief.
