There are many massage benefits for men. Gone are the days when self-care, skin care, massage therapy, and other wellness techniques are seen as a luxury reserved only for women. Today, more and more men are discovering the many benefits of massages for both their physical and mental health.
The beauty of massage therapy lies in the number of options you have – there are countless types of massages that you can choose from so you can find one that caters to your specific needs and preferences. Whether you’re an athlete aiming to improve your performance, a worker recovering from an injury, or a professional that needs to de-stress and relax, you can benefit from regular massages immensely.
In this article, let’s explore the top benefits of massage therapy, focusing on massage benefits for men that you may not have heard of before.
The Top Benefits of Massage Therapy
Massage techniques have been around for centuries. It has been proven to provide amazing physical, mental, and emotional benefits to everyone, including men, women, and children. Before we dive into the surprising benefits of massage for men, let’s quickly go through the general advantages of getting regular massages:
Physical Benefits
- Improved Immune Function: Regular massages help increase the activity level of the body’s natural “killer T cells,” which fight off viruses. This helps boost the body’s immune system strength.
- Muscle Relaxation and Tension Relief: Our muscles tighten when we feel stressed, do intense workouts, or spend endless hours working at our desk. Massages help loosen knots and release tension from the muscles, leaving you relaxed and energized.
- Enhanced Blood Circulation: Massage therapy b၀၀sts your circulation, helping bring more oxygen and nutrients to your muscles, which aids in recovery and overall wellness.
- Pain Management: Massages help release endorphins which are the body’s natural painkillers. Massage therapy also improves blood flow to affected areas – this reduces inflammation and muscle tension, thereby alleviating pain and enhancing mobility.
Mental Benefits
- Stress Reduction and Relaxation: When you’re feeling stressed and tense, being in the calm and quiet environment of a spa helps you relax instantly. The soothing massage techniques will help release tension from your mind and body, leaving you feeling relaxed, balanced, and centered.
- Anxiety and Depression Relief: On top of being in a calming and soothing environment, massages release oxytocin (love hormones) and endorphins (happy hormones) which are not only natural painkillers but also mood boosters. A massage also lowers the levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can help you return to a state of calm.
- Improved Sleep Quality: Anxiety and stress are the leading causes of insomnia. When you manage these negative emotions and ease any physical tension that may interfere with sleep, your body will be more ready for rest, leading to quality sleep.
Surprising Massage Benefits For Men
While everyone can get all the wonderful benefits mentioned above, there are certain advantages that are specific to males. From improved sports performance to countering low testosterone levels, here are the surprising benefits of massage therapy for men’s health.
Improves Sports Performance and Recovery
Men tend to play rougher, tougher sports compared to women. Whether it’s mountain biking, boxing, rugby, or even intense gym workouts, these pursuits are more likely to bring muscular soreness, traumas, and sprains to the body.
Massages help sports performance by enhancing flexibility and range of motion, which can improve overall athletic ability and reduce the risk of injury. Additionally, massage therapy aids in faster muscle recovery by increasing blood flow and reducing muscle soreness, allowing athletes to train more effectively and consistently.
Reduces Risk Of Injuries
Active men, whether work or sports wise, can benefit greatly from regular massages. As mentioned above, massages can improve blood circulation, increase range of motion, promote flexibility, and improve posture. These factors help reduce the risk of injuries as well as faster recovery times if injured. Since men are typically less flexible than women, they are more prone to muscle pain and injury, that’s why regular massages are ideal.
Alleviates Male-Specific Heart Problems
Massage therapy promotes heart health. Studies found that more than 8% of men have coronary heart disease. They also have roughly twice the risk of heart attacks than women. Stress contributes to the development of heart issues – they elevate blood pressure and heart rate, strain the cardiovascular system, and encourage unhealthy behaviors like poor diet, smoking, and lack of exercise, all of which further raise the risk of heart disease.
Massages are effective stress busters – they relax the mind and body and effectively lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Research proved that a single massage session results in lower blood pressure and heart rate.
Combats Male Pattern Baldness
Men are prone to bald patches, receding hairlines, and other hair thinning issues. In fact, male pattern baldness accounts for more than 95% of all male hair loss. Research proves that scalp massages can increase hair thickness and also boost hair regrowth. Thicker and healthier hair is encouraged by increasing blood circulation in the scalp and stretching both dermal papilla cells and subcutaneous tissue.
Counters Low Testosterone
Low testosterone, also known as male hypogonadism, is a debilitating condition that can lead to lower bone and decreased muscle mass, reduced sex drive, and changes in mood such as irritability and depression.
Massage therapy cannot directly increase testosterone production, but it can help combat the root causes of low testosterone by increasing blood flow, improving your quality of sleep, and easing stress and tension.
Conclusion
Massage for men is a must. There are many wonderful benefits of massage for men, and these can easily be achieved by visiting a trusted massage spa regularly. Start your massage routine today and begin your journey to health, wellness, and happiness.