Massage may help improve sleep in two primary ways.
➡️The first is by alleviating stress. Stress is known to affect sleep. Massage reduces stress by decreasing cortisol (a stress hormone) and increasing serotonin and dopamine (neurotransmitters that help to stabilize mood). Using massage to decrease stress and to promote relaxation may help you sleep better.
➡️The other way that massage may help with sleep is by managing pain and tension caused by stress or injury. Pain and sleep loss can exacerbate one another, leading to a vicious cycle. A lack of sleep can worsen pain, while pain itself can make it difficult to find a comfortable enough position to fall asleep.
➡️Successful treatment of pain may improve sleep. Massage therapy has been shown to be helpful in managing various types of pain, including headaches, neck and back pain, arthritis, and pain after surgery.
➡️If you deal with pain that affects your sleep, it’s important to work with a medical professional on whether massage may be helpful for you and whether other factors, such as your mattress and pillows, can be optimized to help you sleep better.
Wanaka Massage & Pilates, Health coaching with Body Recharge 