ADVICE

The Benefits of Massage for Older People

If you’re over the age of seventy, massage therapy may not be something you’ve considered to be beneficial to you. However, whilst the benefits of massage in young and old certainly overlap, there are conditions more common in older people for which massage therapy can provide relief.

Decreased mobility, joint inflammation and muscle pain are often associated with ageing but can also be linked to conditions such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, Parkinsons Disease and MS. Massage can help alleviate some or all of these symptoms.

We all slow down as we get older but a period of immobility, perhaps due to injury or illness, can lead to a rapid decline in muscle strength and stiff, immobile joints. Massage stimulates blood flow and reduces feelings of “stiffness”. This helps to improve the range of movement in the effected joints resulting in an increase in mobility and a greater inclination to get moving again.

Massage can also improve mood and reduce stress as it stimulates the release of the “feel good” hormones, endorphins, serotonine and dopamine.  This not only helps to improve sleep quality but can also leave the person feeling uplifted and motivated to get up and about.

The massage techniques used are always adapted to suit each individual. Some benefit from a firmer massage than others, but it’s been shown that even the gentlest massage has a positive effect on the nervous system and blood circulation.

If you’re in pain, or your joints feel stiff and immobile, or you just feel unmotivated to get outside and move around, consider having a massage.