Benefits of Massage Therapy

Personal Story Series

A video showcase of the benefits of Massage Therapy. With thanks to all the individuals who allowed us tell their stories. Click on a picture below to view the video on Vimeo.

• Details of each person's massage therapy treatment plan are unique to them. Ask your RMT how they would create a treatment plan that meets your wellness needs and goals.

Benefits of Massage Therapy: Quick Fact Cards and Infographics now available for several common conditions

Click on each image for more information on the benefits of massage therapy for each condition.

Make an appointment with your RMT today or find an MTAM Massage Therapist in your area!

A Wide Range of Benefits for Everyone

Great benefits may be achieved through regular massage therapy treatments from a Registered Massage Therapist. Whether you need to have a moment of relaxation, reduce muscle tension or attain relief from chronic pain or injury rehabilitation, a therapeutic massage can enhance your overall sense of emotional and physical well-being as well as your quality of life.

Massage therapy has a wide range of benefits for people of all ages including infants, children, older adults, pregnant women, athletes, office workers, and so on.

These benefits are known to include: effective reduction and management of pain, alleviation of depression and anxiety, improved immune function, reduction of inflammation, facilitation of weight gain in pre-term infants, improved body awareness, decreased body dissatisfaction in patients with eating disorders, decrease in stress hormones, enhanced healing of scar tissue, improved sleep, reduction of muscle tension, improved joint mobility, improved posture, and improved lymphatic drainage.

Massage therapy can be used in the treatment of both acute and chronic stages of conditions. While massage therapy can benefit the injured, the ill and the stressed, the strength of massage therapy in preventing illness and conditions before they develop should not be overlooked.

The therapeutic benefits of massage continue to be researched. Recent research indicates the effectiveness of massage therapy for the following conditions:

• Cancer-related fatigue.¹
• Low back pain.²
• Osteoarthritis of the knee.³
• Reducing post-operative pain.⁴
• Boosting the body’s immune system functioning.⁵
• Decreasing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.⁶
• Lowering blood pressure.⁷
• Reducing headache frequency.⁸
• Easing alcohol withdrawal symptoms.⁹
• Decreasing pain in cancer patients.¹⁰

According to the 2007 Fraser Institute report on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Canada¹¹,  35% of Canadians and 38% of Manitobans have used massage therapy in their lifetime, and the top 3 health conditions for which people seek massage therapy treatment are:

• Back or neck problems (39%)
• Relaxation (8%)
• Muscle problems (6%)

​Discover how massage therapy can help you at www.massageforlife.ca

The massageforlife.ca website is tool that the public can use to learn more about how massage therapy is effective at treating a wide variety of injuries and conditions. You will also see tips on how to select the appropriate RMT (are all practitioners qualified to treat your concern or should you seek out someone with additional or focussed training in that area). There are also references on each page supporting the efficacy of massage therapy as a treamtent option.

Start exploring the benefits of massage therapy today!