Many people believe that the health benefits of Thai massage include reducing stress, increasing energy, and improving sports performance.
Thai massage uses soft pressure and stretching techniques to relax the whole body. This is an ancient healing practice that originated in India. It dates back to about 2,500-7,000 years ago.
The technique used by Thai massage therapists is very different from what the people of the West are used to. Unlike Swedish or Shiatsu massage techniques, in which a person lies passively on a bed, the client lies on the floor and participates more actively in the massage.
This article will analyze the benefits of Thai massage, how it can help athletes and some of the secondary effects that people can experience.
Health benefits of Thai massage
Thai massage has many health benefits, from reducing stress to relieving muscle tension. It can even increase energy. Next, we discuss five health benefits of Thai massage.
1. Reduce stress
Stress is not necessarily bad. Stress can often act as a positive motivator that could help push people to perform better and achieve more in their personal and professional lives.
However, too much stress can negatively affect mental and physical health. Chronic or long-lasting stress can cause serious illnesses, such as depression and cardiovascular diseases.
Thai massage uses gentle techniques of pressure and stretching to relax the body. A 2015 study found that Thai massage significantly reduces the levels of a certain marker of stress present in saliva, called sAA.
The researchers concluded that Thai massage is more effective in reducing stress in healthy people than simply relaxing.
2. Increase energy
The investigation has demonstrated that Thai massage can increase the physical energy levels of the person. A randomized trial examined the effects of Thai and Swedish massage on people experiencing fatigue. The results revealed that the Thai massage increased energy and mental stimulation, while the Swedish massage was more likely to improve relaxation and sleep.
The technique of Thai massage is based on the notion of energy lines, or Sen. The major of practitioners believe that there are several Sen, or channels, of energy within the body.
Sen corresponds to different parts of the body, such as bones, muscles, blood, and nerves. Some sen also affects the mind and consciousness. These are called subtle channels.
Theory suggests that tight muscles cause blockages within different sen. These blockages reduce the flow of vital energy, resulting in stiffness, pain, and disease. Thai massage uses different techniques that open or contract different senses to correct the flow of vital energy.
3. Relieves headaches
A cut type is a specific form of Thai massage that consists of applying pressure to specific energy channels.
A 2015 Trusted Source study found that Thai slice massage is an effective treatment for people with chronic tension headaches. They also had lower measurements of the hardness of the fabric, which the scientists measured using a portable device.
4. Stimulates circulation
Thai massage can promote the circulation of both blood and lymph through the use of gentle stretches. These yoga-like stretches increase blood circulation, which fills the body’s tissues with oxygen. This helps promote cell growth and heart health.
A Trusted Source study examined the benefits of Thai foot massage in persons with peripheral neuropathy, a common complication of diabetes. The researchers found that this massage helped to improve the balance of people.
They believe this is because it improves blood circulation, which, in turn, stimulates the somatosensory system. This is a system that plays an important role in balance.
5. Improve range of motion
Thai massage incorporates stretches similar to yoga to reduce stress and improve circulation. Gentle, gradual stretching will improve a person’s flexibility over time, allowing for a greater range of motion.
Thai massage can also improve the circulation of fluid in the joints, or synovial fluid, which reduces friction between the joints. This can improve joint mobility and range of motion.
Thai massage for athletes
Athletes are prone to fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and injury during training. That is why many athletes work with Spanish sports masseuses.
Sports massage combines assisted stretching and various massage techniques to treat sports injuries and improve the range of motion of an athlete. Practitioners often use assisted stretching to target a specific area of the body or a particular muscle group.
Thai massage, on the other hand, gradually stretches the entire body, allowing the person to relax. The dynamic stretches used by Thai massage practitioners can offer more deep and restorative stretches than some assisted stretching techniques of sports massage.
The relaxation combined with the energizing and invigorating effects of the Thai massage helps people feel mentally and physically restored.
Thai massage also improves circulation, which brings more oxygen to the muscles and other tissues. This can prevent injuries and improve the ability of the athlete to recover after intense training.
How often to get Thai massages
After a Thai massage, a person can feel very relaxed. However, they must keep in mind that their muscles have been worked, stretched, and punctured. After a Thai massage, the person should rest and drink plenty of water.
There are no guidelines on how often a person should receive a Thai massage. People should try to incorporate daily maintenance routines that involve stretching and relaxation techniques. This will help them stay flexible for a long time after the massage.
People should also listen to their bodies. If someone experiences persistent pain or discomfort in an area of their body, they should consult their provider of medical care, as this may indicate an underlying health condition.
If someone wants to concentrate on a specific area of their body, they can opt to work with a massage therapist to schedule regular sessions until they are satisfied with the results. At that point, they can consider spacing out their appointments and focus on maintaining results.
What to expect during a Thai massage?
A good way to visualize the Thai massage is to imagine that someone is accommodating the body in different yoga postures.
For a Thai massage, the client usually lies on the floor. A massage therapist with a license will slowly work the client’s body through various stretches. The therapist can use his hands, knees, legs, or feet to help manipulate the person’s body in different positions.
This should not cause pain or discomfort, but a person should alert their masseuse if they experience some of these things.
People do not need to prepare for a Thai massage in advance, but they should consider the following advice:
Try to arrive 10 minutes early to complete any paperwork before your appointment.
• Inform the practitioner of any significant medical history, as Thai massage is not safe for some people with certain health conditions.
• Come to the appointment in loose-fitting or athletic clothing. Try to avoid tight clothing because it can cause discomfort and limit the range of motion during the massage.
• Thai massage also utilizes energy work, which consists of applying pressure to specific points on the body to open channels that will improve the flow of energy through the body.
Side effects and risks
While Thai massage has many health benefits, the technique also has limits.
Due to its impact on the circulatory system, people with the following health conditions should consult their provider of medical care before seeking a Thai massage:
• high blood pressure
• diabetes
• heart disease
• osteoporosis
• Neurological diseases that affect the spinal cord
• Coronary artery disease
Trained massage therapists can adjust the intensity and pressure to suit their clients. However, a person should avoid Thai massage while recovering from an injury. Even at the lowest intensity, Thai massage can sometimes cause further injury to the body.
People who have cancer, are pregnant, or are recovering from surgery should not undergo a Thai massage. The physical intensity of this massage technique could lead to health complications or worsen pre-existing injuries.
Summary
Despite its ancient origins, Thai massage remains a relatively new technique in Western culture. Recent investigations have revealed that Thai massage is associated with many benefits for health, such as better circulation, a better range of motion, and reduced levels of stress.
While a person of any age can receive a Thai massage, it is not appropriate for everyone. Persons with certain health conditions, such as cancer or cardiovascular diseases, those who are pregnant, and those who have just undergone surgery should not receive a Thai massage, because the technique could present risks to health.
If someone is considering receiving a Thai massage but is worried that his medical history may prevent him from doing it, he should first consult his provider of medical care.
