Elements of Massage & Integrated Therapy - Aristia Ninos, L.M.T. Connecting the Mind~Body~Spirit
 "Every human being is the author of his own health or disease"
Buddha  
  • ADHD
One of the most common psychiatric diagnostic labels given to children.  Massage has a calming effect because it triggers the parasypathetic nervous system.
 
  • Alzheimer's Disease
This is the most common form of dementia & the 7th most common cause of death in the United States.  Massage benefits Alzheimer's patients by helping them keep a connection to the real world.  Touch is one of the first senses to develop & when degenerative illness occurs, it's the last sense to go.
 
  • Anxiety Disorders
When you experience anxiety, your body produces a lot of the stress hormone cortisol.  Massage lowers cortisol levels & also gets rid of the muscle tension.
 
  • Arthritis
There are 200 different types of arthritis.  The most common types are rheumatoid arthritis & osteoarthritis.  While massage can't heal arthritis, people with arthritis can still experience the benefits of massage therapy because it reduces inflamation, pain & stress on the joints.
 
  • Back pain
Mssage can looosen tight muscles, relieve pain & reduce tightness.
 
  • Oncology
Massage can help decrease pain & anxiety in patients during & after cancer treatments.
 
  • Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Therapeutic massage is aimed at helping the body function better by using techniques such as myofascial release to get muscles & connective tissues to relax & function properly.
  • Headaches
Massage relaxes tense muscles, relieves muscle spasms, improves blood flow & aids relaxation, it can be helpful for relieving the pain of both tension & vascular headaches.
 
  • Menopause
Massage is just one of the many natural treatments that can be used to help diminish the many symptoms of menopause. 
 
  • Muscle Spasms & Cramps
Massage benefits by helping the muscle relax & bringing more blood to the damaged tissue.
 
  • Neck & Shoulder Pain
Massage brings renewed mobility in the neck & shoulder region.  It reduces muscle tension & inflammation, improves circulation & promotes an overall feeling of well being.
 
  • Plantar Fasciitis
Deep tissue massage breaks down the adhesions in the muscles, tendons & ligaments that can block circulation, limit movement & causes inflammation, which causes pain or discomfort.
 
  • Sports injury
Whether you are a professional athlete, a serious exerciser or a casual trainer, sports massage can improve your results, increase your abilities & help you recover from sports-related injuries.
 
  • Stress
Massage increases circulation, relaxes sore muscles, invigorates the lymph system, reduces pain, & increases flexibility in joints to improve range of motion. With all of these benefits, the body should feel less stress & pain.  Massage also helps the body release natural painkillers, which may help boost the immune system.
Massage Therapy Studies
There have been numerous studies done at The Mayo Clinic & The Touch Research Institute which have proven that Massage Therapy improves the overall well being of an individual.  
 
  • Fibromyalgia sufferers reported that massage therapy reduced pain, lowered anxiety and decreased depression;
  • HIV patients had a significant increase in the "natural killer cells", a decrease in anxiety and depression;
  • Cancer patients reported feeling less depressed, having more energy, less nausea during treatments and their dopamine levels, natural killer cells & lymphocytes increased;
  • Children with ADD showed behavior improvement, to be less hyperactive & were able to stay more on task;
 
For more information on these studies,