Massage therapy has been used for decades to reduce stress, relive muscle tension, and improve overall health. In the past few years, many mums-to-be in Great Barrington have shown increased interest in massage in Great Barrington as a way to ease common pregnancy discomforts. But do the prenatal massage services offer any concrete health benefits? Well, the answer is an astounding YES and here are a few reasons why:
- Reduction of Swelling or Oedema: Swelling during pregnancy is caused by body’s response to increased pressure on the blood vessels as well as reduced blood circulation due to the heavy bub! Massage stimulates the soft tissues of the body, reducing the collection of fluids in the joints and boosts removal of toxins by the lymph system.
- Maintaining Good Posture: Massage promotes good posture, allowing pregnant women to adjust to the changing alignment caused by the increasing weight of the baby. In particular, massage improves muscle tone and flexibility, increasing one’s capability to support extra weight. It also relives aches and pains, muscle spasms, and leg cramps.
- Hormone Regulation: Message therapy has also been shown to decrease stress hormone levels significantly, boosting vascular health and aiding in mood regulation. A past study indicated that women who had fortnightly massage showed reduced levels of Cortisol and Norepinephrine hormones, which are associated with stress. They also showed increased Serotonin and Dopamine—the happy hormones. Maintaining good levels of Serotonin and Dopamine hormones can also lead to complications during birth.
- Eliminates Pregnancy Discomforts: As hinted above, massage can also aid in remedying a wide range of discomforts experienced during pregnancy including fatigue, shortness of breath, muscular discomforts, carpal tunnel syndrome, nasal congestion, tension and knots, interscapular pain, leg cramps, lower-back pain, headaches, acid reflux, sciatica, hip joint pain, upper-back pain stiffness, headaches, heartburn, varicose veins, neck pain, sacroiliac and constipation among others.
- Improves Nerve Pain: During the final trimester, there is increased pressure from the uterus resting on pelvic floor and the lower back, causing pressure and swelling on the nearby nerves. As a result, many women suffer sciatic nerve pain during this stage. Message therapy relieves stress on those muscles, significantly eliminating sciatic nerve pain. In a nutshell, massage Great Barrington experts offer to pregnant women focuses on the special needs of the mothers-to-be as their body go through the dramatic changes that accompany the pregnancy period. As highlighted above, the therapy not only ease the nerve pains and discomforts associated with pregnancy but also help them to prepare for labor. It is also provides great emotional support.
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