Benefits of therapeutic massage

Significant research looking at the benefits of therapeutic massage has been done at leading scientific institutions such as the National Institutes for Health (NIH).  Results indicate that therapeutic massage has many positive health benefits, including reducing the stress associated with periodontal disease and related doctor’s appointments.  Minimizing stress also helps your body heal faster and makes for a better overall outcome.

 

Additionally, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the governing body of safety and quality in medical care, has now designated pain as a fifth vital sign, along with heart rate, respiration, blood pressure and body temperature.  Massage has proven to reduce the unpleasantness of pain following surgery, suggesting its usefulness as an adjunct in pre and postoperative care.

We already know that it has been proven that periodontal disease can negatively affect the overall health of a patient, with regard to cardiovascular disease, pre term, low birth weight babies, and diabetes.  Stress has an affect on the body as well, either immediately (acute) and over time (chronic).  Tension is often the first sign of acute stress.  Other symptoms include rapid heartbeat, headaches, backaches, rapid breathing, and stiff neck and/or tight shoulders.  Not only are these elevated levels of stress bad for the heart and compromise the immune system, but studies have shown that patients under psychological stress are more likely to develop clinical attachment loss and loss of alveolar bone. We have taken this mouth/body connection another step further in our office in a continuing effort to give our patients the best, most up to date care possible.   We now give our patients a 30-minute therapeutic, preoperative chair massage before all of our surgeries in an attempt to lessen the effect of stress and pain post operatively.  We have a certified Therapeutic Massage therapist full time in our office.  We have found it to be a wonderful tool for our patients as they prepare for major procedures.  Many of them have found it so helpful that they are scheduling massages before routine prophy exams.

 

In addition to our preoperative massage, our therapist is certified in Tempero Mandibular Joint disorders, and treats patients with TMD using clinical massage techniques.  Many of  patients may suffer from these disorders without really knowing it.  Symptoms of TMD may include frequent or chronic headaches, backaches, earaches and bruxism.  Other benefits of massage include:

 

Physical Benefits

1. Helps relieve stress and aids relaxation
2. Helps relieve muscle tension and stiffness
3. Reduces pain and swelling
4. Reduces muscle spasms
5. Provides greater joint flexibility and range of motion
6. Promotes deeper and easier breathing
7. Improves circulation of blood and movement of lymph fluids
8. Reduces blood pressure
9. Helps relieve tension-related headaches and effects of eye strain
10. Strengthens immune system

Mental benefits

1. Fosters peace of mind
2. Promotes a relaxed state of mental illness
3. Helps relive mental stress
4. Improves ability to monitor stress signals and respond appropriately
5. Emotional benefits
6. Reduces levels of anxiety
7. Increases awareness of mind-body connection