Massage therapy awareness is growing rapidly, and fast becoming a mandatory activity in our day to day lives. In the age of the computer and other electronic devices keeping us connected, over time it takes a toll on the body. People are turning to massage therapy as part of their self-care to alleviate the physical and mental consequences of the stresses in their day to day life. Seniors too can benefit greatly from massage therapy. Many tell me, “Now why would I need that; I am retired, I don’t have the stress of raising a family or work?” True, but ask yourselves, how is your quality of life? Do you hear yourself saying, oh, I have just the usual aches and pains that come with getting older? I, myself, can remember hearing my grandparents and countless other seniors say this to me. Why do we accept that statement as fact? We are living much longer than past generations; why shouldn’t we feel better? We need to ask ourselves “what can we do to improve our quality of life?” 'The Golden Years' should be golden, NOT frozen with stiffness and pain.
Regular massage therapy can help:
Relieve tense muscles
Increase mobility and flexibility
Pain relief
Reduce anxiety, tension and stress
Improve circulation
Muscle stiffness can keep you from doing the activities you enjoy as well as from participating in social events. Use of a cane or walker, which is necessary for some, can, over time, cause muscle tension and muscle imbalances. Your massage therapist will work with you to establish a treatment plan geared to your goals. A treatment your hair dresser or adult children may have had may be slightly different than yours as it’s tailored to your individual needs and goals. There are modifications that may be necessary for seniors, such as the type of medication you’re taking and health conditions; for example, blood thinners. This makes it very important to fully disclose your health history to your massage therapist, to help establish a safe and effective treatment plan just for you.
Working with a massage therapist will help you to remain limber and provide the gentle stretches that will keep you flexible and improve range of motion. Regular massage therapy can help relieve tense muscles and keep you comfortable and better able to participate in everyday life. Massage therapy also helps seniors such as you stay more in tune with their bodies and create awareness of how to move. Balance, agility and movement all improve when you undergo massages on a regular basis, which means you may have more coordination and be less likely to take a fall. This in turn helps provide an improved attitude that will leave you more open to participating in social activities without fear of injury.
Contact a Registered Massage Therapist today to help you keep these years as golden as possible.
Contributor: Sarah Moir, Registered Massage Therapist
Hands On Therapy Don Mills; 1300 Don Mills Road, Unit 104
Contact: (647) 560-9784 ; handsontherapydonmills@gmail.com
Website: handsontherapydonmills.ca
Sarah graduated from Sutherland-Chan School of Massage in 2003. With her training, passion and years of experience, Sarah offers treatments and techniques geared towards your individual needs. Sarah has also obtained her Certificate of Medical Acupuncture through McMaster University. Sarah is co-owner of Hands On Therapy Don Mills with long time colleague, Donna Lea, RMT. Hands On Therapy is a multi-disciplinary clinic in the community of Don Mills, where they call home.
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