8 Signs You'd Benefit from a Therapeutic Massage

When most people think of massage we think of something luxurious to have as a special treat, something you might book on a spa day or when someone gives you a voucher as a present. Still, therapeutic massage is a little different, it's not so much about indulging, as actually tackling the aches, tension and stress that your body has been suffering for some time. The problem is that we become so used to feeling like this that we don't notice it anymore, and it's not something that we associate with using massage to help!

So how do you know if it's time to book one? Well, if these few signs below seem to ring true, then your body may well be crying out for some attention, and the good news is, you don't need to go far to get it, with therapy massage treatments in Whitnash right on your doorstep.

1. Your shoulders live up by your ears

If you've found your shoulders permanently hunched and tight and lifting them instinctively suddenly feels like a release, this is the tension stored within you. This resides so much over such a period of time that eventually the tightened version becomes the norm.

A massage will work directly into the muscles to unlock the holds you have kept there for weeks or months.

2. You keep getting tension headaches

That dull, tight band around your head or the nagging headache that gets a grip around the back of your head isn't always just one of those things. The tightness around the neck and upper shoulders is a very common cause of headaches.

Reducing this tightness can take away the frequency of these headaches.

3. You're not sleeping well

It can be more difficult to switch off when you are feeling driven. Many find massage to take the nervous system down into a state that encourages sleep (sometimes even that evening) and it is definitely worth a go if you are lying there staring into the dark with a anxious mind and a stiff body.

4. You sit at a desk all day

Hours at a computer do silent damage: rounded shoulders, tight hips, sore lower back. If you're stuck at the desk, your body is probably bearing the brunt. Therapeutic massage is one of the most effective remedies for some of that daily stress.

5. You're stressed and can't seem to switch off

Stress is not just in your headit's also in your body, and it holds in all your muscles, clenched jaw, tight chest, knotted shoulders. If you find yourself constantly 'on' and can never relax, massage can help by physically relaxing the muscles that continue the circle.

6. You've got a niggle that won't go away

That frustrating bit between your blades, stiff hips, or an aching lower back you've so often adjusted around. Chronic muscular annoyances seldom improve without a little help. A therapist can work on the exact spot rather than just hope it clears up.

7. You feel stiff and your movement is limited

If bending down, turning over or reaching now seems to be more restricted than it used to be, it can often be due to tight muscles. Massage will help un-tighten everything out and will get back some of the relatively effortless movement that you have gradually started to lose.

8. You simply haven't looked after yourself in ages

On occasion there's no single dramatic symptom, just an overall feeling of being dragged out, tight, and needing some well-earned attention. That's fine. No need to make it up with a complaint. Feeling ill is reason enough.

So, if any one of these hit a nerve, this is your message. Massage isn't a luxury so much as just another form of basic upkeep for a body that does so much for you every single day.

A reasonable tip: if you have a symptom that won't go away or is getting worse, or if you have something that has been bugging you, see your GP first. Massage is wonderful in releasing tension in everyday life but in another case, that would be best combined with advice.