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 A massage can yield several benefits; it is both physical and emotional. In the past few years, the amount of stress level and anxiety has increased in the individuals due to many factors. The profit margins of the massage centers, spas, and other relaxation centers have increased considerably owing to the increase in the number of individuals opting for these services.


The popularity of the prenatal massage has increased down the years. Owing to the pain and stress that women undergo during pregnancy, they are considering prenatal massage as a very good alternative for relaxation.
The major benefits of having a prenatal massage are listed below:
The main reason why pregnant women opt for a massage is to reduce the stress and anxiety. Studies have shown that the level of stress and anxiety increases during pregnancy and a good massage therapy helps in reducing both mental and physical stress. A prenatal massage can help in decreasing the depression; it also helps in relieving joint and muscle pains which are very frequent during pregnancy.
Another common symptom during pregnancy is swelling, which is a normal response of the body to the increased pressure on the major blood vessels. By a gentle massage, the soft tissues are stimulated that helps to minimize the fluid collection in the joints and waste removal by the lymph system is also improved.
There is a huge change observed in the hormone level in the pregnant women. A prenatal massage helps in reducing the hormone levels that are associated with stress (Norepinephrine and Cortisol) and, in turn, increases the level of happy hormones (Serotonin and Dopamine). Studies have also shown that maintaining these hormones during the period reduces the complications during labor.
Reaching towards the final trimester, the body undergoes a lot of transformations. Heavy uterus leads to increased pressure on the pelvic floor and lower back causing pressure on the nearby nerves and swelling. A good massage helps in relieving the stress on the muscles and minimizes the sciatic nerve pain.
These are only some of the major benefits that are listed but there are numerous other benefits of a prenatal massage. Hence, considering for a prenatal massage is always good to relieve yourself from stress and pain.

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(MENAFN Editorial) EVANSTON, Ill., May 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

​Research shows massage therapy is a realistic approach to many forms of pain that can either replace use of drugs, such as opioids, or work in conjunction with non-addictive medication for pain management. The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) has compiled some of the strongest clinical and consumer research on massage therapy for pain.1,2,3,4
Massage therapy is a well-accepted nonpharmacological therapy for managing pain, including a variety of specific chronic pain issues. It is recognized by the National Institutes of Health, and included in nonpharmacological pain guidelines issued by The Joint Commission for hospitals, as well as guidelines by the American College of Physicians and the Federation of State Medical Boards. And, consumers know from experience how massage can help manage their pain – in a 2017 consumer survey , 39% of those who had a massage in the previous 12 months sought it for pain, stiffness or spasms.
Addiction to opioids is a serious health issue in the United States, with more than 34,000 deaths in 2016. Massage therapy is a very real option for many forms of pain, with no risk of addiction.Find a Massage Therapist Near You
A qualified massage therapist can play an important role in the health care team for individuals dealing with cancer and their caregivers. Individuals should consult with a qualified, professional massage therapist to determine the best massage therapy approach for their specific needs. By meeting or exceeding state training requirements, ascribing to a code of ethics and participating in continuing education, American Massage Therapy Association massage therapists are appropriate additions to any wellness regimen and create specialized approaches based on individual conditions, fitness and goals.To find a massage therapist near you, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) offers a free professional massage therapist locator service at www.findamassagetherapist.org .
About The American Massage Therapy AssociationThe American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), the most trusted name in massage therapy, is the largest non-profit, professional association serving massage therapists, massage students and massage schools. AMTA works to advance the profession through ethics and standards, the promotion of fair and consistent licensing of massage therapists in all states, and public education on the benefits of massage.
Recent ResearchResearch on the benefits of massage therapy for various types of pain continues to grow.

• Crawford C, et al. The Impact of Massage Therapy on Function in Pain Populations—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: Part I, Patients Experiencing Pain in the General Population. Pain Med (2016) 17 (7): 1353-1375. "Based on the evidence, massage therapy should be strongly recommended for pain management."
• Boyd, C, et al. The Impact of Massage Therapy on Function in Pain Populations—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: Part II, Cancer Pain Populations. Pain Med (2016) 17 (8): 1553-1568. "Based on the evidence, massage therapy shows promise for reducing pain intensity/severity, fatigue, and anxiety in cancer populations compared to the active comparators evaluated in a new systematic review."
• Boyd, C, et al. The Impact of Massage Therapy on Function in Pain Populations—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: Part III, Surgical Pain Populations. Pain Med (2016) 17 (9): 1757-1772. "The study concludes that patients should consider massage therapy as a therapeutic option to help manage their pain and anxiety from surgical procedures."
• Nahin RL, Boineau R, Khalsa PS, Stussman BJ, Weber WJ. Evidence-based evaluation of complementary health approaches for pain management in the United States. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2016;91(9):1292–1306.

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Equine massage therapy continues to gain popularity, and with good reason.

Although limited studies have examined the benefits of equine massage, this noninvasive therapy continues to grow in popularity among horse owners, competitors, and rehabilitation facility owners. Here’s why.

• Pain relief: It is well known that massage therapy reduces and relieves muscle tension in humans, and it can do the same for horses. And with muscle tension relief comes pain relief. Areas of scar tissue can also benefit from massage. Massage loosens scar tissue gradually, helping the horse move more freely and reducing the associated pain. Massage and stretching can help restore a horse’s mobility after an injury by reducing tension as collagen fibers heal and realign themselves post trauma.
  
  
• Improved locomotor function: Massage can be a valuable addition to a rehabilitation program. By loosening tightened connective tissue, massage helps improve a horse’s overall locomotor function. The results are easy to see and are often visible immediately after a session. In a study at The Royal Veterinary College in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, massage of the caudal muscles of the equine hind limb significantly increased passive and active hind limb protraction.
  
  
• Improved circulation: The compression and release pattern of equine massage can help promote circulation in the superficial areas of the limbs. It’s particularly useful for stallbound horses that develop lower leg edema by promoting blood and lymph circulation.
  
  
• Relaxation: Many horses visibly relax during a massage session by dropping their head, licking or chewing, cocking a hind leg, swaying with the massage therapist’s movements, and even going to sleep. A 2016 study on the effect of massage on the heart rate of Arabian racehorses supported anecdotal evidence regarding the relaxing benefits of massage. The study, performed on 72 racehorses, measured the heart rate and variability of horses during race season as evidence of the horses’ emotional state. Each group trained 6 days per week, and the experimental group also received massages 3 days per week. Changes in heart rate parameters in the experimental group suggested that “massage may be effectively used to make the racehorses more relaxed and calm.”
  
  
• Trust: A massage session also offers important trust-building elements. Owners who learn basic massage techniques can use massage to help a horse associate their touch with a pleasant experience. I have used massage on several rescue horses with impressive results. One mare was so frightened of humans that simply catching her in the stall proved a challenge. After a 40-minute massage session, she approached me as I left the stall, turned herself to the side, and allowed me to continue massaging her as she closed her eyes and lowered her head.  

Rob Karwath for NWHSU | Dale Healey, Dean of the College of Health & Wellness at NWHSU, is part of a national team developing universally accepted competency standards for massage in hospitals.
equest Information
Across the country, health experts applaud efforts to bring more therapeutic massage into hospitals as a helpful treatment for patients.
But experts also realize that they need to establish standards to help hospitals and massage therapists understand what constitutes the best use of and performance of massage in hospitals, as well as how to hire and train for hospital massage jobs.
Dale Healey, Dean of the College of Health & Wellness at Northwestern Health Sciences University, is part of a national team developing universally accepted competency standards for massage in hospitals. The project is an initiative of the Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health. Healey is a member of the group’s board of directors. Work on the project is wrapping up, and the group is sharing its recommendations with the health-care industry.
The strong push for—and interest in—more therapeutic massage in hospitals has created the need for standards, Healey says. As it turns out, massage in hospitals is much different from what most consider the traditional practice of massage.
“Most massage schools have traditionally trained massage therapists for work in what we’ve come to know as the standard setting,” Healey says. “It’s a clinic or a practice with a small room, dim lights and ambulatory patients.”
But, he adds, “The hospital setting calls for something that often is quite different. Massage typically happens at the bedside, not on a traditional massage table. The body mechanics are much different. And the biggest difference is often the patients themselves. In hospitals, massage therapists often work with acutely ill patients. Therapists are not giving the typical 60- or 30-minute full body massage. Their work is much more targeted. They often are not treating diseases but instead some of the things that go along with patients being in a hospital, including anxiety, pain and stress.”
Add in that hospital massage therapists also work as part of integrated health-care teams, with the many protocols and communication needs of a large institution, and the work of massage therapists in hospitals can look radically different.
Competency standards are needed not only to ensure the best care for patients but also to make clear that hospitals have an understanding of the skills they seek—and that massage therapists know what it means to work in hospitals.
“A really big thing is the emotional component for the therapist,” Healey says. “In the hospital, they may be caring for someone in a very bad state, maybe someone who is dying. That can have a profound effect on the therapist. We have to make sure that they are prepared. Most schools aren’t training for that sufficiently right now. And hospitals are telling us that they don’t know what to look for or ask of their therapists.”
“The goal is to get a set of standards so everyone understands the needs and expectations better,” he says, “and so outcomes are better for patients.”