Massage Therapy for Seniors

When’s the last time you truly took time for yourself? Personal care can fall by the wayside when we spend all of our time caring for family, friends and loved ones. As noble as caring for others is, neglecting your own physical and mental health can leave you struggling with physical pain, anxious and depressed. One simple way to care for yourself is massage therapy.

Massage therapy is a form of therapy that targets the soft tissues of your body—your muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and skin. A specially trained massage therapist will use different degrees of pressure and movement to relieve pain points and improve your health. In this blog, we’ll explore different types of massage therapy and the benefits it offers your health as you age.

Types of Massage Therapy for Seniors

There are a variety of forms of massage therapy that focus on different parts of your body. No matter which form you receive, though, each one can help reduce overall stress levels and promote relaxation.

• Reflexology—This form of therapy applies pressure to areas on the feet or hands. Reflexology can help to stimulate the nerve endings in your feet and hands and in your central nervous system to relieve discomfort and alter the way you feel pain.
• Jin Shin Jyutsu—This is an ancient form of massage therapy that uses gentle touch to heal and harmonize the body. One type of Jin Shin Jyutsu is acupressure. Acupressure targets specific points in your body to relieve pain and stimulate energy.
• Craniosacral Therapy—This is a gentle hands-on technique that uses a light touch to help the movement of fluids in and around your central nervous system. This method promotes a greater feeling of well-being by relieving tension in the central nervous system and eliminating pain. This form of massage therapy can also improve headaches and neck and back pain.

Beyond the physical and mental improvements, all three types of massage therapy can even relieve symptoms associated with diabetes, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and arthritis.

5 Benefits of Massage Therapy for Seniors

There are many health benefits you can receive from massage therapy. Not only can a massage leave you feeling relaxed, but it can actually enhance your overall quality of life.

1. Enhanced Mood

The American Hospital Association reports that massage therapy can stimulate your brain to produce more endorphins, a “feel good” hormone. These hormones, combined with the stress relief massage therapy provides, can elevate your mood and improve how you feel better.

2. Improved Circulation

Activity levels and mobility can decrease with age, resulting in a loss of circulation. Massage therapy can promote an increase in blood flow, which helps the body eliminate cellular debris and lactic acid that can settle in the muscles.

3. Improved Immune Health

Research has shown that regular massage therapy can actually boost your immune system and flush out toxins by increasing blood flow throughout your body. Massage therapy can also increase the activity of white blood cells, helping your body fight off diseases and reduce cortisol levels.

4. Increased Joint Mobility and Flexibility

Pain can negatively affect your quality of life. Massage therapy is known to reduce pain by increasing blood flow, easing inflammation and reducing muscle tightness. Better blood flow and muscle health can improve your mobility and flexibility, ultimately helping you live a more active, independent lifestyle.

5. Reduced Anxiety and Depression

Receiving a massage regularly can lower your stress levels and, in turn, reduce any feelings of anxiety or depression you may be experiencing. Lower stress levels can help you have a more positive mindset, improving your mental wellness and physical well-being.

Fellowship Village Offers Massage Therapy to Residents

At Fellowship Village, we are proud to offer our residents high-quality massage therapy services. Patty Thaute is a Board Certified and State Licensed Massage Therapist at Fellowship that specializes in senior care. Patty is specially trained in Swedish massage, craniosacral therapy, acupressure and reflexology. Patty is just one of our Fellowship Senior Living Rehab & Wellness Team Members who can provide services at the Fellowship Village Rehab Center in Basking Ridge, NJ or at a resident’s home.

Massage therapy is just one way we help residents improve their wellness at Fellowship Village. As a resident, you’ll also have access to personal training, therapy at home options, and both outpatient and inpatient senior rehabilitation services.

Contact us today at 908-580-3880 to learn more about the different wellness services you can receive from Fellowship Village to help you enhance your active and fulfilling lifestyle.