4 Benefits of Massage for the Elderly
Do you know someone from the elderly population? If you do, then you probably have observed their way of living and overall quality of life. Picture this: Limited physical movement, lower energy levels, reduced strength, and most likely some (if not a lot of) chronic conditions diagnosed over time. It may be heartbreaking to even think about, but it is inevitable, right? But there is still room for good news. There is a way for seniors to cope. And it brings with it several benefits, too.
What’s this, you ask? It’s massage therapy. Let’s go straight to the point and start with this one.
Massage therapy brings the benefit of pain relief to the elderly
What’s the number one complaint you can expect to hear from your grandparents? That’s right, pain. How can massage therapy help? Fortunately, it can be quite a useful aide when it comes to pain management. The relaxation you feel after getting a massage is not just in your mind. Your body’s tensed and stiff muscles actually calm down and relax, too. And if you’re a senior who’s feeling all sorts of physical discomfort from the aging process alone, this feeling is priceless.
Basically, there is pain felt in their joints as they suffer from the wear and tear of their cartilage overtime. You know what one research has revealed? The elderly participants of this study benefited from reduced pain levels brought about by the massage therapy that they received.
Related: 3 Benefits of Massage Therapy for People With Autoimmune Diseases
Massage therapy brings the benefit of improved flexibility to the elderly
Remember the aforementioned findings in the study on knee osteoarthritis earlier? Apparently, massage therapy does not just keep the prescription for pain pills at bay. It also helped improve the range of motion (ROM) in their joints. And how is this related to their flexibility? Simple. Your ROM allows your body to perform certain movements. The healthier your muscles, tendons, and ligaments are, the better your ROM is. In short, you are more flexible.
As for the senior population? The ROM degenerates as your age. The older you get, the less flexible your joints and muscles can become. And massage therapy works for elderly people, by what means? It relieves the stiffness surrounding the joints and muscles, essentially lubricating them and promoting improved flexibility in the process.
Is there more to this list? You bet.
Massage therapy for the elderly also brings the benefit of improved sleep.
Did you know that sleep disorders are quite common among the elderly, too? It’s true. From the emergence of modern lifestyles to coexisting chronic diseases, many factors have been noted to bring about worsened sleep quality among the older populace. And the consequence of insomnia or lack of enough sleep, especially for the elderly? It can further lower the immune system’s performance and slow down their metabolism, to name a few.
So, how does massage therapy bring about improved sleep patterns? You already know that it eases muscular pain and contraction and thus promotes relaxation. But did you know that massage therapy can do so much more? The keyword here is cortisol. Yes, it’s the hormone that wreaks havoc in your nervous system, triggering your body to be constantly alert, making you feel stressed.
And when your body is in this loop of fight or flight response? You guessed it. Sleep patterns are out of whack, too. So, how are cortisol and massage therapy for the elderly linked? Massage therapy can lower their cortisol levels, giving them a calmer nervous system that translates to longer and better hours of slumber.
Another notable scenario in the lives of older people? Depression and, sometimes, the loss of will to live. Is there a benefit associated with this one? Certainly.
Massage therapy for the elderly may also improve their mood
Here’s an interesting result from the same study that noted a decrease in cortisol levels after massage therapy: Serotonin levels also increased post-massage therapy. And what is this neurotransmitter commonly known as? It’s your happy hormone. Do you see where this is heading? For elderly people, a few minutes of gentle yet effective geriatric massage does not just address physical problems. It may also be an effective treatment that can address overall mental health concerns.
Now, is there a caveat to all these benefits? Logically, it is always wise to get a clearance from a healthcare professional, before undergoing massage therapy, to avoid any complication. And if there is a go-signal from the doctor? Then the benefits of massage therapy await the elderly and even other members of the family.
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