Can a Massage Help to Improve Circulation?

Finding ways to improve circulation is incredibly beneficial to your health. Learn how getting a massage can help get the blood flowing!

According to a recent survey, over 60% of respondents want to feel healthier in general. Another 51% hope to lose weight in 2021.

Here’s some good news! Reclaiming your health can be easy! It begins with finding ways to improve circulation within the body. 

Read on to learn more. We’ll explain why this matters and how massage can be a massive boon for your circulatory system.

Why You Should Try to Improve Your Circulation

When you have good circulation, the body is happy. Good circulation provides fresh nutrients and oxygen to all your organs and tissues. 

Good circulation has significant health benefits:

• Your organs and tissues can function properly
• Waste is expelled from tissues
• You have more energy
• You can more easily fight off disease and sickness

Understanding Why 

The circulatory system controls the body’s blood flow function. It includes your:

• Arteries
• Veins
• Lymphatic system

If any of these components is disturbed, poor circulation will result.

Poor circulation isn’t a condition in and of itself. It’s a symptom of other underlying health issues. The most common include:

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Heart conditions
• Blood vessel health
• Blood pressure
• Thyroid function

When circulation is poor, problems arise. Conditions such as swelling, tightness, tension, and pain can increase. 

Therefore, treating the underlying conditions is critical to achieving optimal health.

You may want to speak with your healthcare provider about your circulation concerns before implementing any lifestyle changes.

Improve Circulation Naturally

The good news is, there are many ways to improve circulation naturally. 

You’ve probably already guessed that diet and lifestyle are where it starts. 

Here are some of the best ways you can get your blood flowing. 

Get Moving 

Most Americans do not move enough. Think about it; we drive to work, sit at a desk for up to eight hours, go home, sit to eat dinner, and relax on the couch to watch TV. 

If you don’t move it, you lose it. So even just five minutes of moderate movement has immense benefit. 

The easiest way to incorporate some movement in your life may be a morning or evening walk around the block. 

Additionally, low-impact movement, like Tai Chi or gentle yoga, can also help immensely. 

Eat the Rainbow

The Standard American Diet is SAD. Filled with processed foods, sugars, and largely empty calories. 

Try adding in as many fresh fruits and vegetables as you can. Think about eating the rainbow, lots of colors on your plate.

Specifically, you can try to add in: 

• Beets
• Pomegranate seeds
• Berries
• Purple cabbage
• Sweet potatoes

Get a Massage

Massage is a fantastic way to help improve your circulation with the bonus of reducing stress. Massage causes increased blood flow and helps to improve circulation in the body.

Many studies indicate therapeutic massage helps the soft tissue relax. 

This causes: 

• Increased oxygen
• Better absorption of nutrients
• Increased waste removal
• Flushing toxins
• Reduction of swelling of the muscles and organs

Some of the common problems that massage helps include: 

• Joint pains
• Muscle cramps
• Joint dislocation
• Menstrual cramps
• Headaches
• Poor circulation

How Massage Works to Improve Circulation

During a massage, the thoughtful application of strokes, compression, and other techniques creates friction. This friction helps to stimulate the flow of blood and lymph through your system.

You could think of your body like a tube of toothpaste. When you apply pressure to the tube, the paste flows out easily. 

In general, it’s the same principle for your body. Apply pressure and the blood and lymph flow. 

There are certain types of massage that are especially great for those seeking to improve circulation. 

Sports Massage

Don’t let the name fool you, this style of massage is excellent for non-athletes too. 

Sports massage uses manual manipulation of the muscles to address trouble areas. It uses a variety of techniques to help improve circulation and decrease pain. These can include effleurage, kneading, wringing, hacking, assisted stretching, and trigger point work. 

Swedish Massage 

Swedish is perhaps the classic massage, what many people think of when they think of massage therapy. Gentle and nurturing, an excellent Swedish massage will leave you feeling relaxed and renewed. 

The therapist will likely utilize long, soft kneading strokes to coax tension from the muscles. It is very gentle and rhythmic. 

Lymphatic Drainage Massage

A lymphatic drainage massage will gently encourage the movement of lymph fluids through the body. 

More serious circulatory issues can benefit immensely from this type of massage, including those afflicted with:

• Lymphedema
• Fibromyalgia
• Any swelling
• Insomnia
• Digestive problems
• Migraines
• Arthritis 

This style is counter-indicated if you have blood clots, congestive heart failure, or kidney problems. When in doubt as to whether a treatment is good for you, consult your primary care doctor. 

Massage Techniques for Better Circulation

There are an endless number of styles and techniques for massage. 

All of the therapies we mentioned include some similar techniques. By using these techniques, any massage style can help improve circulation. 

Effleurage 

Effleurage is a gentle massage technique. Its application ranges in pressure from very soft to very firm. 

Flattened hands and fingers move in directional strokes, either towards or away from the heart, depending on your needs. 

Effleurage strokes stimulate receptors in the body that causes blood vessels to dilate, also called vasodilation. Vasodilation decreases blood pressure, allowing an increase in blood flow through the vessels. 

This technique helps to:

• Increase muscle flexibility
• Increase range of movement
• Decrease pain

Wringing 

In wringing, flat hands and fingers pick and pull both sides of the treatment area to the center, but in opposite directions. Think of it like wringing out a dishcloth. 

Wringing is most commonly used to:

• Loosen tight muscles
• Relieve tension 
• Decrease restriction

Wringing creates friction between your skin and the therapists’ fingers via the picking up and pulling actions. 

Friction itself encourages improved circulation, which then invites metabolic wastes to be flushed from the body so healthy nutrients can be delivered to muscles

Feel Better Starting Today 

If you are ready to improve circulation in your body, we’re here to help. All of our trained therapists are licensed, insured and ready to support you in your unique healing journey. Call (402) 384-8400 to book your massage today!