If you regard the occasional massage as just self-indulgence, look again. According to a new Oxford University study into the effects of touch on general well being, all of us need a massage regularly, particularly if we have a demanding occupation, exercise or sports regime, and especially if we’re older, living alone or incapacitated.
According to the study, modern life – with its growing emphasis on single living – is turning us into touch-starved individuals. It concluded that we need to stimulate our senses if we’re to stay healthy. The study also notes that as our senses age, we need more, not less, stimulation.
Skin, our largest organ, constitutes about 20% of our bodies. Massage elevates the levels of the hormone oxytocin – the ‘relaxation’ hormone – while reducing levels of cortisol, the “stress” hormone.
Comedian Bob Hope at 100 years of age was asked his secret of healthy longevity. He said “I laugh at everything and have a massage every day.”
Massage combined with soft tissue manipulation benefits most people, particularly the elderly. Purpose and mobility go hand in hand as we age. Quantity of life without mobility makes aging a burden.
More than ever our society needs to return to the time-proven, scientifically-established benefits of massage.
Especially when massage is combined with soft-tissue mobilisation techniques, it promotes
Find the mobility to maximise your dreams, keep up your present performance, remove those aches and pains, and help your body recover from injury faster, with the effective range of soft tissue techniques available at The Camac Clinic.
