8 Benefits of Massage Therapy for Neck Pain

Did you know that massage therapy has been around since roughly 2700 BCE? As a result, we know there are many benefits from using massage therapy to treat neck pain.

If you’ve been trying to treat your neck pain and nothing has worked, here’s a list of some of the top benefits associated with massage therapy. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll be ready to book an appointment with your nearest massage therapist.

1. Alleviates Pain

The first and most obvious benefit of massage therapy is that it relieves any pain that you’ve been in. No matter the cause of your pain, your massage therapist will likely be able to ease it.

There are two main types of techniques therapists use: Swedish massage and deep tissue massage. 

Swedish massage will likely be used if your neck pain stems from surface muscle tension or improper posture. This technique promotes muscle relaxation through smooth, steady strokes.

If you have a neck injury or are experiencing muscle pain deeper within your neck, your therapist will use deep tissue massage. Deep tissue massage targets the inner muscles in your neck to provide pain relief and help you heal.

2. Improves Your Sleep

In addition to easing your pain, using massage therapy will make it easier for you to sleep. This is both because of the pain relief you’re feeling, and also the inherent relaxing effect of a massage. Massages even have the unexpected side effect of relieving sleep-related conditions such as insomnia.

Improving your sleep does wonders for the rest of your body. The body repairs itself best when you have a proper sleep schedule, meaning you might continue to see a decrease in pain.

In addition, you’ll notice a positive increase in your mood when you’re better rested. Having a full night’s sleep makes it easier for you to handle any stress in your day.

3. Increases Circulation

You might not have known this, but another benefit of massage therapy is that it improves your circulation and increases blood flow.

Having proper circulation is crucial to your health. A proper massage will help move the blood to the areas that need it most, namely any damaged or tense muscles.

When your muscles have good blood flow, they heal easier and you experience less pain during the process. In addition, proper circulation leads to lower blood pressure.

4. Decreases Inflammation

One of the most common causes of pain in your body is inflammation. If you’ve ever experienced this problem due to injury or chronic illness, you know exactly what it does to your body.

When your joints or muscles become inflamed, it puts your body in a lot of pain. It also makes it difficult for you to move through your day-to-day life.

Having massages at regular intervals will decrease the amount of inflammation you experience. If you have chronic inflammation, then massage therapy is a simple way to provide your body with a much-needed break from the pain.

5. Shortens Recovery Time

Although many people haven’t heard, studies show that massage therapy can actually shorten your recovery time. This holds true for both recovering from surgery and recovering from a sports-related injury.

In fact, you might have noticed massage tents at sporting events! Athletes will enter these tents after a rough event in hopes of recovering quicker and having better performance. Often, massage therapy provides the desired results.

In the case of surgical recovery, studies have shown that massage therapy can relieve pain and anxiety in patients. Massage therapy can even help reduce the amount of pain that a cancer patient experiences!

6. Improves Posture

Poor posture is yet another common cause of neck pain. This is because people often don’t realize when they’re using poor posture. 

Fortunately, massage therapy can help temporarily improve your posture and provide you with pain relief. Once you realize how much your poor posture is affecting your health, then you’ll be able to take steps to change it.

Keeping your improved posture after massage therapy is as simple as being conscious of how your body is positioned. Your neck should be held straight as you go about your day.

Don’t hunch over your laptop or phone- it will only cause you more pain. In addition, make sure you take regular breaks to stretch your muscles.

7. Improves Your Mobility

Yet another benefit of receiving massage therapy is that it helps improve your mobility. In addition, it helps increase your range of motion.

That’s because massage therapy relaxes your muscles, increases blood flow, and decreases inflammation. It’s also lessens your pain.

Having improved mobility can open many doors for you, even if you haven’t realized it. For example, someone who experiences joint pain due to stiffness might be able to go on walks or hikes thanks to massage therapy.

8. Assists in Relaxation

Lastly, massages help you relax and improve your mood. One hour of a massage can be as restful as eight hours of sleep. This means that you leave a session notably more relaxed than you entered it. 

Being relaxed helps you to let go of muscle tension, which will release the pain you’ve been carrying.

Being relaxed also makes it easier for you to get through your day. You won’t be as stressed about anything you need to accomplish; everything will feel easier to manage.

Receive Massage Therapy for Neck Pain

Now that you know all the benefits of receiving massage therapy for your neck pain, don’t wait another moment. Make an appointment with us so you can experience these benefits for yourself.

The process of relaxing and treating your neck pain starts as soon as you show up. You can even unwind before your appointment with a selection of refreshments.

Get some relief! Book an appointment online or give us a call at (402) 384-8400 to benefit from some of these amazing results.