How effective are massages really?

We know it from everyday life when we sit at work for a long time and our body tells us that something isn't quite right. It pinches, pulls and sometimes even hurts a lot. Whether it's in the back, neck, shoulders or legs, the first thing we instinctively do is massage, stretch or stretch the affected area. It usually feels good and if we do it “right” and hit the spot exactly, the beneficial effect even lasts for a long time. But there are also voices that question massages and their effects. Massage treatments are repeatedly confronted with making false promises of healing or generally not working. What are wellness massages, what are healing massages and what doesn't work at all?

In this article we explain how effective massages really are. We would like to give you an insight into the effects massages are said to have and in which cases massages can be health-promoting. The areas of application are undoubtedly diverse.

Reading tip: From head to toe: This is how massages help

The wellness massage - relaxation for body and mind

A key way massage works is to simply relax us. It allows us to switch off, forget the stress of everyday life and lose ourselves in the pleasant rhythmic movements. That is the goal of the wellness massage, a soothing treatment after which we simply feel better. This form of massage is often accompanied by soothing sounds or scents as well as heat treatments.

Even if this form of massage is not promised any medical effects, the stress reduction factor and its positive effect on people should not be ignored. After all, mental well-being cannot be completely separated from physical well-being. In addition to the wellness massage, there are of course also healing massages.

The healing massage - treatment of symptoms and clinical pictures

Remedial massage, as the name suggests, aims to relieve discomfort and improve health. The effects of massages are based on human experience that goes back thousands of years. In the case of certain illnesses or complaints, they are known to alleviate them or support the healing process.

Medically prescribed massages range from rehabilitation to pain relief. So let’s get an overview of what effects treatments can have.

Reading tip: In our post "Are massages medically useful?" we explain the different medical applications of massage.

Effects of massages

What can kneading, tapping and stroking do to the body? Even if it is not consistently scientifically supported, there are numerous areas of application for massage that are based on centuries of experience and observations.

Relaxing the muscles and releasing tension

As a rule, muscular tension and hardening occur due to incorrect and overloading. Perhaps you have already experienced that you have changed your movement sequence due to an injury. For example, when people have knee pain, many people put more pressure on the healthy knee in order to relieve the pain on the knee. This leads to incorrect and excessive strain on healthy areas and thus to further problems. This is often the case with incorrect posture or movements in sports or at work.

Tensions that arise in this way can be effectively relieved through targeted massages, thereby alleviating discomfort in the affected areas. However, the cause and circumstances for its occurrence must be determined separately from the treatment in order to be permanently eliminated.

Promote blood circulation

Treating an area of ​​the body by tapping, kneading and stroking easily leads to short-term redness. We all know the effect of rubbing a spot on our skin a little more intensively for a few seconds. This is because blood circulation is increased in the affected area.

Blood transports, among other things, nutrients and oxygen and is responsible for temperature regulation in our body. An increase in blood circulation should result in better care in areas with complaints and thus support the healing process. But deposits and “waste products” that arise during the healing process can also be transported away more quickly by the blood, which should enable faster healing.

Support wound healing

Especially due to the circulation-promoting effect of a massage, it is suitable for stimulating and supporting wound healing. The most important thing is: never massage fresh wounds. If there are scars or long-standing wounds, a massage can certainly help to accelerate cell renewal. In this application in particular, a medical evaluation is the top priority so as not to have a contrary effect. Connective tissue massages are also often used here.

Pain relief

Especially in the case of chronic pain, regular massages can have a pain-relieving effect or even interrupt it, even if it does not eliminate it. The cause of the pain should also be clarified by a doctor and a separate treatment should be pursued. Massage can serve as an accompanying therapy to relieve pain.

Reading tip: When you have chronic pain, you get it Improved quality of life through pain therapy.

Elimination of sleep disorders

Not only physical effects, but also psychological effects are attributed to massages. The focus is specifically on reducing stress and increasing well-being and often brings about improvements in anxiety or inner restlessness. Deeper, more consistent sleep can have an impact beyond the mental and also on the overall health of the body. After all, sleep is the most important method of regeneration for humans.

Promise of healing – Can massages heal?

Although the medical effects of massages have not been consistently scientifically substantiated in conventional medicine, they are based on centuries of experience. It is used in sports, is prescribed by many doctors due to its diverse effects and definitely has an impact on our well-being.

Since massages cannot be patented and sold by a large corporation, studies on their effects on specific diseases and for approval as a treatment method are unlikely. This inevitably means that no promises of healing can be made through massage, although there are numerous applications in which people have already had positive experiences with it.

While some doctors consider massages to be effective treatment methods, there are also critical voices that put this into perspective. According to them, active mobilization is preferable to massages used to treat symptoms. This includes physiotherapy and building mobility and muscles to strengthen the body and the region to be treated. In the long term, this is the more sustainable method of correcting and avoiding misalignments and incorrect movement sequences, according to some experts.

Are massages healthy?

What remains to be summarized is that massages have a positive effect on physical well-being. You relax, loosen up and support your own mobility. If you have specific illnesses, you should always seek medical advice to clarify whether massage is an option for treatment. Getting a regular massage is also a question of self-worth. Would you like to do something good for yourself? Do you specifically plan time for relaxation and recovery for yourself? The positive effects of a massage are perhaps so difficult to summarize on a leaflet because they take this holistic approach to well-being.

Cover photo by Nik Shuliahin. Another photo by Mitchell Griest