Other than providing immediate back-pain relief, the benefits of a back massage extend much further than that. From boosting your immune system to curbing migraine, your entire body has much to gain when you get a back massage.

1. Correct bad postures

A major cause of back pain is tightened muscles and when they are not given time to relax, the chances of them being inflamed are increased. With the majority of us working on a desk-bound job and hunching our back over our computers for a long period of time, getting the right posture can be a major challenge.

Fortunately, a back massage can correct bad back posture. It can help to loosen tense muscles and restore joint flexibility, thus allowing your body to position itself back into a natural and healthy alignment.

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2. Relieve post-workout muscle ache

If you’ve been sweating it out in the gym, there is a high chance that you will experience Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness or DOMS. It is the muscle ache that occurs within 48 hours after your workout and it can get in the way of your daily life.

A back massage will increase blood circulation, not only to your back but the whole body as well. With increased blood flow, it will flood the muscles and tissues with much-needed nutrients that will speed up your recovery.

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3. Boost body’s immunity

What better way to protect yourself during flu seasons than with an enjoyable massage? A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine[1] found that massage boosts the number of white blood cells in the body that can protect you from illnesses like cold and flu. You will never know when flu season strikes, and prevention is always better than cure.

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4. Halt headaches

It is common to experience headaches or migraines that are caused by work or other life stressors. Combined with bad postures, it can worsen your stress level by raising cortisol levels and can even become a chronic pain issue. Luckily, a good back massage doesn’t only relieve back pain, but headaches too. Research from Granada University in Spain[1] found out that a single massage session will have an immediate effect on headaches. Hence, you can look into back massagers that can be easily placed in your work \place for instant back or head tension relief.

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5. Sweet dreams

Ever dozed off during a massage session? There is a perfectly good explanation for that. According to a study conducted by the University of Sao Paulo[1], heart surgery patients who had massage therapy were reported to be less tired and enjoyed better sleep.

Another research published in the International Journal of Neuroscience[2] also indicated that massage increased the frequency of delta waves, a type of brain wave that is a crucial component of our sleep. So, if you ever felt that your sleep quality seems to be dropping, getting regular massages might just improve your sleep.

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[1] Rapaport, M. H., Schettler, P., & Bresee, C. (2012). A preliminary study of the effects of repeated massage on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and immune function in healthy individuals: a study of mechanisms of action and dosage. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 18(8), 789-97.
[2] Arroyo-Morales, M., Olea, N., Martínez, M. M., Hidalgo-Lozano, A., Ruiz-Rodríguez, C., & Díaz-Rodríguez, L. (2008). Psychophysiological effects of massage-myofascial release after exercise: a randomized sham-control study. The journal of alternative and complementary medicine, 14(10), 1223-122
[3] Nerbass, F. B., Feltrim, M. I. Z., Souza, S. A. D., Ykeda, D. S., & Lorenzi-Filho, G. (2010). Effects of massage therapy on sleep quality after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Clinics, 65(11), 1105-1110.
[4] Field, T., Ironson, G., Scafidi, F., Nawrocki, T., Goncalves, A., Burman, I., ... & Kuhn, C. (1996). Massage therapy reduces anxiety and enhances EEG pattern of alertness and math computations. International Journal of Neuroscience, 86(3-4), 197-205.

5 Reasons Why You Should Get A Back Massage

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