Can Anyone get a Massage?

Massage is known to be beneficial in improving blood circulation, accelerating healing, reducing stress, enhancing metabolism, and even improving cell growth. Given the many benefits of massaging, massage therapy is fast becoming a popular means for people to reinvigorate their mind and body. And, this popularity is uniformly distributed across the population, i.e. massage therapy is not only limited to a certain age group of people, or to only people of any specific occupation. Massages can be of many types, targeting different groups of people – babies, children, older people, and even pregnant women!

Let us take a look at the benefits each of these age groups can obtain from massage therapy, and how each type is different from the other.

1. Massage for babies

Infant massage is a proven technique to help improve sleep, relax the baby, strengthen its growing muscles and bones, improve digestion, and also reduce colic. Massage is also an excellent way to build a bonding between the mother or father and the baby by means of the touch therapy. Touching, stroking, and caressing also increases the levels of growth hormones and helps achieve various development milestones. Massaging a baby involves gentle stroking in each and every part of the baby’s body. Always make sure you are using baby oil, and that the room is sufficiently warm (since you will be taking off your baby’s clothes during massaging). Detailed descriptions about massaging babies of different ages are provided at babycenter.com.

2. Massage for children

Children, as such, do not NEED massage, but massaging can be a good way towards the overall well-being of your child. Massaging infants is a relatively easy task, since an infant isn’t very mobile. But as the child grows, massaging her will depend on her own wish. Children’s attention spans are short, and they may not particularly like longer massage sessions. A short 15-minute massage that concentrates on the arms and legs, especially on the fingers and toes, and some amount of gentle massaging of the head would be sufficient for a child. Sometimes, the child might fall asleep during massaging, which is a good sign, indicating that the massage has created a soothing and relaxing effect on the child. Massaging has been found to be especially effective for children suffering from diseases such as diabetes, hyperactivity disorders, psychiatric problems, and autism as well. It is believed that the reduction in stress, and the improved blood circulation help alleviate the effects of these diseases to some extent.

3. Massage for older people

Just as good massage can be to an infant, it can benefit an elderly to the same extent. Massaging is known to improve cell growth and accelerate healing. Massaging helps keep elderly fit and active by having the mind and body function optimally. Massaging promotes healthy skin, boosts immune system functioning, reduces muscle tension and friction, reduces anxiety, stress, improves sleeping, enhances flexibility, and also helps in arthritis. The warmth that is created during the rubbing of the skin whilst massaging provides a soothing effect on the muscles of the elderly and relieves joint pains. It is highly recommended that the elderly receive regular massaging (at least once in a week) for their better health and overall sense of well-being.

4. Massage for pregnant women

All the benefits of massaging mentioned in the previous sections apply to a pregnant woman as well. However, there are certain precautions that need to be considered when massaging a pregnant woman.

A. Any form of massage or essential oil usage should be avoided during the first trimester.
B. Every massage session should be followed with good amount of water intake.
C. Avoid placing any pressure on the abdomen area.
D. There are certain pressure points on the ankles and the wrist that can stimulate uterine and pelvic muscles, and cause contractions. Be careful and avoid such areas.
E. Always use only gentle, light strokes
F. Discontinue immediately in case of ANY form of discomfort.
G. Always consult your medical practitioner before initiating massage therapy for a pregnant woman
H. Consider taking the services of a certified massage therapist.

Anyone can benefit really from massage therapy. Nobody is too young or too old to get their first massage.