Medical Benefits of Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is a manual treatment of the soft tissues of the body, including muscle, tendons and ligaments and connective tissue for the purpose of normalizing them.
A massage therapist uses his/her hands, fingers, forearm, elbow, and feet to ease muscle pain, reduce stress, and promote relaxation and wellbeing.
Massage therapy is one of the oldest healthcare practices known to human history, having its references found in Chinese texts more than four thousand years old. 
In recent years, massage has emerged as one of the most popular complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) in both Eastern and Western cultures.
Studies conducted by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) show that more and more people are turning to massage therapy for the treatment of their health issues and healthcare professionals are increasingly recommending the treatment to their patients.
Unfortunately, along with a number of benefits, there are several risks associated with massage therapy.
Let’s have a look at the common pros and cons of the treatment.
Benefits:
Some of the common benefits of massage therapy include:    
•   Relieves Muscle Pain       
Massage therapy releases muscle tension and improves flexibility by increasing the blood circulation to the affected muscles and bringing in increased oxygen and nutrients to the blood. 
•   Improves Sleep
Since massage relaxes the body, it can help you to help you fall asleep easily and haves longer periods of sleep. You will find yourself much more relaxed and energized throughout the day after receiving the massage.
•   Improves Immune System
Massage therapy improves the functioning of your immune system, a collection of biological structures and processes within the body that protects your body from against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign bodies.
•   Improves Circulation
Massage therapy loosens muscles and tendons that increase the blood circulation throughout your body.
•   Reduces Fatigue
Massage therapy can improve your mood and promote better sleep, thus helping you feel relaxed and balanced at the end of a tiring day.
•   Reduces Blood Pressure
Massage therapy lowers blood pressure by releasing muscle tension and calming the nervous system. 
•   Soothes Anxiety and Depression
Massage therapy reduces symptoms of anxiety by releasing muscle tension, bringing down cortisol levels, lowering blood pressure, and improving sleep.
•   Removes Toxins
Massage therapy stimulates the soft tissues that help your body to flush out toxins through your blood and lymphatic systems.
Risks:
Here are some common risks and side effects associated with massage therapy.
•   Blood Clots
Experts at MaxWell Medical recommend the patients with high blood pressure to avoid receiving massage therapy.
This is because high blood pressure causes plaques to develop in the arteries, and they may rupture as a result of pressure excreted during a massage that could lead to the formation of blood clots into the body. If these blood clots travel into the lungs, they can be fatal. The risk of such an event, however, is very low.
People suffering from deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a serious condition that causes blood clots to form in one or more deep veins of the body, are at a greater risk.
•   Nerve Damage
Massage therapy may potentially cause strain in the nerves that sometimes result in nerve damage. It usually happens when excessive pressure on applied to a specific area causes the nerves to contract, and interfere with the blood circulation.
•   Bruising
Massage therapy sometimes can lead to bruising, particularly if you bruise easily or use anticoagulant medications. It is therefore important to explain your condition to your therapist before the massage so he/she can take appropriate measures to avoid causing bruises.
•   Allergic Reactions
Some massage therapists use various creams, oils, or lotions in order to slide their hands smoothly over the patient’s skin and promote relaxation. If you are allergic to any of these creams and oils, they may cause an allergic reaction like skin rashes. Therefore, it is important to informyour therapist of any allergies that may be caused by the use of these products.
•   Internal Bleeding
People suffering from haemophilia, a disorder that impairs the body's ability to make blood clots, may have internal bleeding while receiving massage. This is because the pressure applied by the therapists could result in rupture of blood veins, which may lead to leakage of interstitial fluids.
•   Bone Fracture
Several health conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and cancer, can cause the bones to become frail. People living with these conditions may be susceptible to a bone fracture while receiving massage therapy.
Besides the actual diseases, the treatments and medications used by these patients may also weakentheir bones. Bones undergoing the healing process may be also vulnerable to fractures during the massage.
•   Skin Infection
Various highly contagious skin infections like herpes cold sores and ringworm can be transmitted between the patient and the therapist during massage therapy if the latter is not aware of the outbreak. Therefore, people having a skin infection are advised to avoid massage until they have successfully undergone treatment for it. 
Conclusion:
Massage therapy is a safe and natural treatment that has several benefits. However, there are several risks associated with it as well that you should be aware of before scheduling an appointment with a massage therapy clinic NYC.
Also, massage therapy by a trained or incompetent therapist can cause serious problems, so, it is important to make sure that he/she is properly trained and licensed.
To avoid any serious complications, it is also important to discuss your medical condition with your therapist honestly.