Massage Therapy for Men’s Health

When it comes to self-care, both men and women need to take time for themselves and do things that help promote both their physical and mental health—this includes incorporating massage therapy into a healthy routine as it offers significant health benefits. During June, in celebration of both Father’s Day as well as Men’s Health Month, we’re shining the spotlight on the importance for men to make massage therapy an essential aspect of self-care. In this blog, we’ll share some of the unique benefits of massage for men’s health. 

MUSCULAR RECOVERY

For men who have active jobs, participate in sports or otherwise strain their muscles, a mens health massage is extremely beneficial for recovery and peak performance. Certain types of massage, such as sports massage and therapeutic massage, are specifically designed with muscle strain in mind. Regular massage therapy can break down muscle adhesions and toxins that have built up from strain and overuse, as well as helping to lengthen and strengthen muscles to prevent future injuries. 

HEART HEALTH BENEFITS

Men are at high risk for blood pressure issues, especially from ages 40-64. When left untreated, even the mildest case of hypertension can cause a number of other heart and circulatory issues, such as blood clots, hemorrhages, and even heart attack and stroke. Massage improves cardiovascular health and has been proven to help lower blood pressure, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation—all of which are critical to keeping your veins, arteries, and heart functioning in optimal condition. 

BENEFITS OF MASSAGE THERAPY FOR DIABETICS

Men are at a higher risk for type II diabetes than women and tend to experience other related conditions as a result of type II diabetes.  We’ve written before about how massage therapy can complement a diabetes treatment plan, largely thanks to the unique ways massage assists with circulation, blood flow, nerve pain and range of motion. 

IMPROVED IMMUNE HEALTH

Studies have found that men are extremely reluctant to go to the doctor—leaving many illnesses untreated. While massage therapy is never a substitute for a doctor’s opinion, it can help strengthen your immune system, making doctors’ office visits less frequent and required. Massage therapy does this by improving circulation and lymphatic flow, as well as increasing the level of disease-fighting lymphocyte white blood cells in the blood. In fact, even a single session of Swedish massage can help improve immune function and lymphocyte levels. 

IMPROVED SLEEP

We all have a mental image of one of the men in our lives—a dad, uncle, grandfather, or father-figure—fast asleep on the couch or in his favorite chair in the middle of the afternoon. Often, this is because they’re not getting enough sleep (or sleeping restfully) each night. Massage therapy has been repeatedly shown to help improve sleep quality by reducing stress levels, helping reset your sleep cycle and relieving waking pains. Massage therapy has also been studied as a treatment for symptoms of various sleep disorders, including sleep apnea and insomnia. 

MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF MASSAGE

Massage isn’t just helpful for physical health, but also for mental health. We’ve previously discussed the numerous mental health benefits of massage. In part, this is due to having a dedicated window of time with no external stressors creeping in—a dedicated oasis of calm can always help improve mental health. However, the benefits aren’t just psychological. Massage therapy helps increase the levels of key neurotransmitters responsible for happiness and mental health including oxytocin (the “love hormone”) while decreasing the level of cortisol (commonly referred to as “the stress hormone”). The psychological and chemical mental health benefits of massage can be taken even further with the addition of CBD oil to your preferred style of stress relief massage. 

HELPING MEN EXPERIENCE THE BENEFITS

At Massage Studio’s Tampa and St. Pete locations, we’re proud to create a warm, welcoming experience for everyone. We make sure to work closely with each guest to determine their preferences, needs, and goals for treatment. If you’re trying to persuade a loved one to try massage therapy for their physical or mental health, a Massage Studio gift card is an excellent way to introduce the idea!