Recent studies have found that massage really does work to ease those sore muscles after a tough workout. A 10 minute sports massage can reduce inflammation, which can help your body recover faster, especially after a hard workout.

However, the health benefits of touch extend beyond simply soothing aches and pains. Of course, the stressed-out class have been huge proponents of the anxiety-busting procedure for decades. But a growing body of research suggests that a rubdown is even better for you than you think.  Here are just 7 examples of some of the benefits realized from massages

Allay Pain

8 out of 10 Americans experience debilitating back pain, according to Time.com, but a massage can help. According to a 2011 study, massage helped people in pain function and feel better compared to people who didn’t receive any massage treatment.

“We found the benefits of massage are about as strong as those reported for other effective treatments: medications, acupuncture, exercise and yoga,” Dan Cherkin, Ph.D., lead author of the study, said in a press release.

He also stated “We found that massage helps people with back pain to function even after six months, better function means they are more able to work, take care of themselves, and be active.”

Massage has also been linked to decreased pain and stiffness, as well as better range of motion in people with osteoarthritis.

Boost Immunity

Multiple studies, although often small, have linked massage to better functioning of the immune system.

In one 2010 study, researchers found massage increased a person’s disease-fighting white blood cells. The stress-reducing powers of massage can also help keep you healthy.

Improve Sleep

If you’ve ever dozed off on a massage table, you don’t need to be convinced that a massage can promote healthy sleep. A number of studies have examined this link, and chalk it up to massage’s affect on delta waves, the kind of brain waves connected to deep sleep, according to Health magazine.

Raise Alertness

Want to boost your brainpower? Adults who were given a 15-minute chair massage in a small 1996 Touch Research Institute (TRI) study were more alert and completed a series of math questions faster and more accurately.

Curb Headaches

Just like muscle and back pain, headaches can also be alleviated thanks to massage. A regular rubdown can reduce a person’s number of migraines, according to WebMD, as well as limit how painful each migraine feels, according to the TRI.

A 2009 study found that a 30-minute massage decreased pain for people with tension headaches, and even curbed some of the stress and anger associated with that pounding head.

Beat PMS

At least one small study found that massage can kick pesky PMS symptoms, like bloating and mood swings, to the curb.

Ease Cancer Treatment

Because of many of the benefits listed above, massage is particularly helpful for people living with or undergoing treatment for serious illnesses, like cancer. Various studies have shown that massage can relieve fatigue, pain, anxiety, depression and nausea in cancer patients.

Murrieta Day Spa offers 7 different styles of massage.  Everything from Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports and Hot Stone Massages to Aromatherapy Massage, Pregnancy Massage and Reflexology healing.  They even have foot recovery treatments that include Swedish foot massage and reflexology foot massage.  If you are looking to experience luxury, healing and relaxation at its best in the Temecula Valley, come visit Murrieta Day Spa today!