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 Neurohormones are generally the specialized hormones secreted in the hypothalamus region of the brain by neurosecretory cells. They are essentially chemical messenger molecules that propagate to different parts of the body in order to pass on information.
Massages initially started as a way of relaxation or to reduce the stress in muscles. Soon, numerous benefits of massage therapy started getting revealed. Modern science reveals that massage therapy is not only good for our body but also for our mind and the nervous system. Massage therapy directly or indirectly induces secretion of hormones that make us happy, relaxed and more focused. Some of these neurohormonal effects have been listed in this blog post. Increase in dopamine levels Massage therapy induces dopamine secretion. Dopamine acts as a neurotransmitter. Its primary job is to transmit information between the nerve cells. Dopamine levels generally regulate the emotions, focus and mood. Higher serotonin levels Massage therapy indirectly helps increase serotonin levels. Serotonin secretion is generally induced by the dopamine hormone. As a result of the surge in dopamine secretion, serotonin is also released. Serotonin controls cravings for food, sex etc. Reduces adrenaline and norepinephrine levels Massage therapy calms down the massage receiver by reducing the adrenaline and norepinephrine levels. Adrenaline and norepinephrine levels are increased by the emotions fear or anger. These were originally associated with the primitive instincts of ‘flight or fight.’ Though most interactions by human beings in the modern society don’t need these instincts, these instincts generally kick in automatically. Reduces cortisol levels Cortisol, commonly known as the ‘stress hormone,’ is produced in the adrenal gland. It is a steroid hormone. It works with other hormones to regulate mood, motivation and fear. Massage therapy helps in reduction of cortisol level. The reduction capability of cortisol by massage therapy is the also one of the main reasons that massage therapy has a calming effect on the receiver. Increase in oxytocin levels Oxytocin is a binding hormone that promotes the feelings of care and attachment. The release of oxytocin levels in the brain effects emotional, cognitive and social behaviors. Oxytocin is also associated with childbirth and lactation. Massage therapy regulates and increases the oxytocin level. One must be careful and get massage therapy from professionals only. As it can be noted from above, massage therapy certainly helps in secretion, regulation and balancing of multiple hormones. It is helpful in inducing the parasympathetic state. In the parasympathetic state, the body and the nervous system calm down. This phase is required by our body to re-energize and rejuvenate itself.
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 When English writer A. N. Wilson said, "I should prefer to have a politician who regularly went to a massage parlour than one who promised a laptop computer for every teacher," many of us at InHome nodded our heads in agreement! Massage therapy relaxes you both physically and mentally and leads to more productive functioning in life. It has numerous benefits to your overall well-being.
Reduces stress Stress is generally a byproduct of physical and emotional burnouts. During stress, the cortisol level in your body increases. Your body usually seeks more energy during stressful and tensed situations. Cortisol provides your body with the necessary energy by releasing the stored energy (in the form of glucose) stored in the body. This is the additional energy required by you in a ‘fight or flight’ situation. The constant high cortisol levels over a long duration increases the percentage of glucose in the blood. It might finally result in you having a high blood sugar level in the long term. The disease generally related to high blood sugar level (hyperglycemia) is diabetes. Massage therapy can seriously reduce the stress, thus preventing the chances of hyperglycemia. Reduces anxiety Massage therapy reduces anxiety. It is specifically beneficial for people suffering from GAD (general anxiety disorder). Massage therapy calms the patient down. Also, the physical proximity of a person with calmness and empathy works wonder for the patient. Uplifts the mood Massage therapy generally uplifts the mood as it reduces the tension, anxiety and stress in you. Massage therapy also, directly and indirectly, works on hormone secretion and regulation. The hormone regulation in your favor generally leads to a reduction in anxiety, increase in enthusiasm, upliftment of mood and cheerfulness . Relief from aches, pains and muscle knots Massage therapy reduces the effects of wear and tear in muscles. It streamlines the muscle knots. Some specialized muscle therapy systems also cure tears in tendons, ligaments and muscles. Improves the posture, flexibility and movement As massage therapy reduces the stress, aches, pains, knots, wear and tear in the muscles, it automatically improves your posture, flexibility and movement capabilities. Increases blood circulation Massage therapy induces blood flow to the targeted regions. The increased flow of blood and nutrients keep the cells healthy and cleans the waste. The essential nutrients enable the different parts of the body to perform respective functions. Reduces the body balance and induces deep sleep Massage therapy restores the natural electrochemical balance in the body. It also works on the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system generally controls the heartbeat rate during sleep and affects breathing patterns. As massage therapy also calms down the body, it usually induces a deep slumber. Strengthened immune system Research has proved that the specialized type of massage strengthens the immune system by increasing the production of white blood cells. Massage can really improve your well-being holistically. It can help you to live an anxiety-free and stress-free life, regulate your hormones properly and make you cheerful.  A migraine generally appears in the form of a headache and nausea and is a neurological disorder. Other problems typically associated with a migraine are vomiting, pain in the eye, numbness, tingling, pulsating sensation, difficulty in speaking, and sensitivity to sound and light.
Symptoms of a Migraine
Trigger point massage therapy treatment A trigger point is like a muscle knot or nodule formed in the muscle fibers. These points sometimes act like cramps in the localized muscle tissues. These trigger points shouldn’t be ignored as they can cause serious pain or even a migraine. The trigger point massage therapy works as it targets the root cause of a migraine - the muscle knots. As the trigger point, massage therapy gets applied to the targeted regions the focus is to fix the knots and restore the muscle fibers to their original size and shape. It is advisable to approach professionals for proper application of trigger point massage therapy. Sitting all day at the computer or meeting up with a list of clients through the day makes you stressed. On weekends, you need a way to take that poisonous week out of your mind and body. You might have experienced back pain that is a result of long work hours and lack of relaxation for the whole week. Massage therapy helps relieve the nerves and muscles from all the tension they have endured. Massage therapy is suggested by many health professionals and fitness trainers. It relaxes the tensed muscles and nerve endings, providing an elevated sense of physical and mental relaxation. Massage also improves work efficiency and thinking ability.  Benefits of an in-home massage therapy
Getting massage therapy is a very blissful feeling; but would someone, who has ground their gears for the whole week, be excited about it if they have to set up an appointment with the massage therapist and get there in time to wait for their turn? Getting an in-home massage frees you of all the hassles you have to go through to get a meditative experience. Get rid of driving and relax Driving needs focus on the road and the traffic; and that makes you even more stressed before your therapy. After you have received a euphoric massage, it’s time to face the traffic again. That massage therapy just went down the sewer! Getting in-home massage therapy ensures that you retain the feeling of euphoria after the massage session is over. Experience deeper relaxation Our brain senses the surroundings and reacts accordingly. Ever thought why you felt so comfortable in your home and not on the park bench? When you are in an unfamiliar surrounding, your senses are on high alert. But at your home, your senses are much calmer and more relaxed. This helps you get away from any kind of sensory disruptions and get more out the massage sessions. Relax the way you want to Being in a state where the aura is of your liking, for example, playing a calm relaxing melody you like or creating the kind of lighting you prefer, lets you experience a much more blissful massage session. You can have the room set up to your mood and have preferences, like the kind of aroma you want or no aroma at all, it’s all on you. Enjoy longer relaxation After experiencing stressful and tensed environments on weekdays, no one would like another set of tensions just to drive back home from all that traffic after a few minutes of massage therapy and be stressed again for the rest of the day. In-home massage therapy lets you enjoy the feeling of the meditative experience of massage for longer. You can enjoy a glass of juice or wine and relax with your favorite T.V. show even after the massage therapist has left. Release yourself from the strangles of daily stress and give your mind an enigmatic experience at your own dwelling without taking a step outside. Contact In-Home Physical Therapy for an In-home massage session. Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder wherein the patient loses touch with reality and behaves abnormally. This disease, which is incurable as of yet, normally affects about 1% of the population. The implications of Schizophrenia, like most mental disorders, reach beyond the patient; it generally affects the family, friends, and the society on the whole. The symptoms of Schizophrenia mostly appear between the ages of 16 and 30.  Symptoms
Exercise therapy for schizophrenia The following types of exercises are generally recommended for schizophrenia patients -
 Proper massage therapy helps people to relax and rejuvenate. Message therapy is used in the treatment of multiple physical and mental problems.
Reasons for undergoing a massage therapy
Beneficial at every age Massage therapy is useful for people of any age. In children, it improves their emotional, physical, and phycological state. It is, however, a must for patients like injured athletes. Massage therapy can help professionals confined to their work desk to get rid of any bodily pain. The gentle massages invite the blood to flow in the massaged area. The flow of blood reduces stiffness, flush nodes and swellings to fix the injuries. Similarly, massage therapy is vital for the elderly too. It stimulates their entire body and improves their health and well-being.  Balance problems become a real issue to tackle as people get older (especially as the age approaches 70 or more). The main reason for balance problems arises lies in the dysfunction of the vestibular systems. One of the harmful effects of having the vestibular disorder is an altered the perception of spatial orientation. For the elderly suffering from this issue, life becomes utterly difficult. They generally have problems in maintaining their stability and upright positions during their everyday chores. Not only they face challenges during standing or walking, but also even while sitting.
Physical therapy and exercises are used to treat body balance issues. Physical therapy for balance helps the elderly to maintain their independence by treating their body balance issues. Physical therapy for balance related issues
Benefits of physical therapy for balance related issues
Prevention of balance related issues Prevention is always better than cure. Though physical therapy for balance is one of the best solutions to body balance issues, the preference should always be to avoid this problem. One can easily avoid this problem by moving around and avoiding a lazy lifestyle. Biannual check-up of eyes and ears should also be encouraged.  Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system. The dopamine-producing neurons located in the substantia nigra are generally adversely affected by this disease.
Parkinson’s disease affects a patient in numerous ways. The most prominent of Parkinson’s disease’s adverse effect is on the movement of the body. The disease is also known to affect voice or speech, swallowing, and even cognitive impairment. It generally affects people 60 years or older but there are instances of even younger people suffering from it. Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease Some of the most common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include:
Positive effects of physiotherapy
Arthritis is essentially the medical term for what is ‘joint inflammation’ and can be used to describe an approximate of common joint conditions and its surrounding tissues. Although the condition is highly prevalent amongst older people, it is not uncommon for people of other ages to get diagnosed with arthritis. Those affected, commonly suffer from constant pain, stiffness, ache, and even some swelling in the specific joint that gets affected. Some have trouble diagnosing the condition because its symptoms can build up gradually, or alternatively build up abruptly. When affected, it becomes very difficult for an individual to perform routine day-to-day activities like before. Now, although you can approach the treatment in multiple ways such as medication, a surgery that includes the replacement of joints, and even non-pharmacologic therapy, one constant should remain an especially tailored massage.
Why Massage?Here, we intend to explain how massage therapy has a positive impact on the individual who’s suffering from arthritis. When you receive a massage from a licensed massage therapist, you will find that the pain that you were suffering from has eased down. That’s because a specially tailored massage therapy provides relief to the joints affected. In addition to the reduced pain, the patient would also experience gradual improvements in stiffness, the extent of movement that they’re able to make, the effectiveness of your hand grip, and the overall efficiency of your joints. The effectiveness of the massage therapy remains the same even when performed on those suffering from wrist arthritis or those experiencing trouble making hand movement. Furthermore, a massage therapy that is suited to arthritis is not supposed to be forceful in nature. The experts know that applying moderate pressure is the best way to provide comfort to the patient through mild relaxation. The objective is for the therapist to stimulate the pressure receptors, thereby allowing the surrounding nerve cells to better convey information (of the easing of the pain) to the brain. Hormonal ImprovementThe rise and fall of your mood is almost exclusively a result of hormonal fluctuations. Massage therapies, in addition to reducing pain, also reduces your body’s production of cortisol, and conversely increases the production of serotonin, which are both stress hormones. This hormonal change can bring about an improvement in the patient’s mood. Before you proceed to look for massage therapists, it’s important to understand that getting just any massage isn’t the only point. The point is to perform the right massage after accounting for the extent of your pain and other essential considerations such as high blood pressure, varicose veins, and the presence of any damaged nerves. It’s important that you consult a rheumatologist to understand if you should proceed with massage therapy. And, when you do proceed with the massage therapy, only trust a professional massage therapy service provider. We are one such service provider and we extend the same service to you. Here’s how you can book a massage. There are many types of physical therapies that are very well known to medical professionals. But, the general public is aware of only a few common types of physical therapy. Due to this lack of knowledge people often end up spending more on medical treatments for issues that can be easily treated with the help of physical therapy. In this article, we’ll take you through common types of physical therapy. 
1. Orthopedic Physical TherapyOrthopedic physical therapy is designed to help people recover from the injuries of musculoskeletal systems and orthopedic surgery. People who have suffered injuries or diseases that affected their bones, muscles, joints, tendons, or ligament can benefit from several sessions of orthopedic physical therapy. These therapists are specialized in treating arthritis, sports injuries, and post-operative joint problems. Also, they prescribe exercises for specific musculoskeletal injury. 2. Geriatric Physical TherapyGeriatric physical therapy deals with optimizing the body functioning of the geriatric population. As the age increases, the body undergoes wear and tear that makes the bone, muscles, and joints infirm. In this phase, people are not able to perform physical activities easily. When the body is not able to take physical strain it affects the bones, joints, and muscles. Geriatric physical therapy is the best solution for seniors to resume performing physical activity, as well as maintain their health. 3. Pediatric physical therapyPediatric physical therapy deals with detecting, managing, and treating injuries, diseases, and disorders that affect the bones, muscles, and joints in infants, children, and adolescence. This type of therapy helps in faster recovery from bone injuries as the body is in its growing stage. Also, pediatric physical therapy helps in building the muscular and skeletal strength of the body. Furthermore, pediatric physical therapy focuses on improving balance, and fine motor skills and endurance of the body. 4. Neurological Physical therapyNeurological physical therapy is meant for the treatment of neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's, brain injury, spinal cord injury, and strokes. Most of the neurological diseases are chronic that may not be cured completely. But, it is possible to achieve some relief to carry out routine activities without being dependent on others successfully. 5. Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitationCardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation is a type of physical therapy that focuses on helping people who suffer from issues of cardiovascular and pulmonary problems. Heart attacks, pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases can be successfully addressed with physical therapy thereby building endurance and muscle strength in the body. Before getting physical therapy, it is recommended that you must consult with qualified physical therapists. They will help you with an appropriate type of physical therapy that can cure your health concerns. Visit us at Inhome Physical Therapy and Massage for more information about the benefits of physical therapy. Before trying anything new on your body, it is normal to have a lot of questions. Massage therapy is not a new concept. But, as more and more people are reaching out to avail of massage therapy services, it has become a hot topic in many health-related discussions. In this discussion, people raise many questions, and most of the time people have similar queries. If you too are looking for answers, then you have come to the right source. In this article, we have collated a few most frequently asked questions about massage therapy. 
How does massage therapy help to maintain good health?Massage therapy is an effective solution to many health concerns. Sometimes, it may even help you eliminate the need of surgery and medication. Apart from releasing muscle tension and treating physical conditions, massage therapy also aids in stress reduction. Apart from reducing muscle tension and stress reduction, massage therapy:
With regular sessions of massage therapy, you can experience positive changes in your mood, behaviour, and body. Who can receive massage therapy?Massage therapy is safe and beneficial for people of all ages. Infants, children, teenagers, young adults, and seniors can turn to massage therapy for treatment of various physical and mental ailments. Also, there are specialized massage therapies for athletes, busy professionals, pregnant women, and elderly individuals. While massage therapy is safe for people of all ages, you must make sure to inform the therapist if you are suffering from some issue. It helps a therapist to take special care while working on patients with a particular problem to prevent further damage. Does massage therapy hurt?The concept of no pain no gain is not applicable to massage therapy. An experienced massage therapist always works as per the comfort level of the client. On the contrary, if you haven’t had any massage done for a long time, then massage therapy may leave you with some pain. But, that is only because your tension is being released from your body. People experience pain when the therapist works on a spot that has been in pain for a long time. But after regular sessions, the pain subsides and relaxation sets in. How soon are the results visible?Some people experience positive results such as instant pain relief, behavioral changes, and an improved quality of life soon after one session. But, generally, effects of massage therapy are visible after three to four weeks. The visibility of results depend upon the severity of the injury or the health condition at the beginning of the treatment. So, if you are in good health you may see the results sooner. For more information and queries about massage therapy visit us at Inhome Physical Therapy and Massage. If you are looking forward to a massage therapy session at your home, book an appointment today. Occupational hazards are hazards experienced at a workplace. Long working hours can take a toll on your physical, as well as mental health. Be it an off-site job or a desk job, body pain and fatigue is a common among working people. So, to get relief from mental and physical exhaustion, most of us prefer sleeping and pain killers as a solution. But, these preventive measures are not enough to mitigate the adverse effects of working for long hours in a workplace. Massage therapy is one viable way to relieve yourself from the mental and physical stress caused to you by tiring working hours. The effects of massage therapy are not limited to relaxing the muscles and bones of the body, but a massage also eases stress. In this article, we’ll primarily focus on how massage therapy can benefit psychological and physical occupational hazards.  Psychological occupational hazards and massage therapy
Psychological hazards in a workplace such as the the pressure resulting from the demands at job, interpersonal conflicts, life and career change, or organizational leadership can cause an imbalance in mental stability. Prolonged exposure to such issues can cause fatigue and exhaustion that can take a massive toll on your work and most importantly on your health. Stress leads to negative changes in behavior, mood, and body. These changes cause various health issues and leads to an increased risks of heart attack, high blood pressure, frequent headaches, anxiety, restlessness, and anger outbursts. Massage therapy stimulates the release of a feel-good hormone called endorphins that help in lowering the blood pressure, cortisol, and helps manage the heart rate. Also, it stimulates the release of serotonin and dopamine, which induces a feeling of calmness that helps in tackling chronic stress. Adding massage therapy into your routine will make you look good, feel healthy, and ensure overall well being of your body. Physical occupational hazards and massage therapy Physical hazards in a workplace include harm caused to the body due to pressure, radiation, noise, and temperature. However physical hazards are not limited to these issues only. Injuries due to slips, trips, and falls in field jobs are counted among physical hazards in a workplace. Also, back pain, frozen shoulder, tired eyes, muscle tightness in hand and legs, and neck tension are some of the common physical issues of a working professional. Massage therapy can help in relieving muscle tightness in the back, neck, arms, and legs, and also increase the blood circulation in the body. Massage therapy for psychological and physical occupational hazards Various massage therapy styles like Swedish massage therapy, neuromuscular massage therapy, deep tissue massage, Shiatsu and Thai massage are available for relieving muscle tension and mental stress. These types of massages result in a relaxed, as well as an energized body. And, it is also beneficial for faster recovery from injuries to the joints and bones. If you have been experiencing emotional or physical stress at your workplace, then massage therapy is the solution for you. Contact InHome Physical Therapy and Massage to book an appointment now. Physiotherapy or physical therapy is a medical term used to define a therapeutic approach, which helps in maximizing, restoring, and maintaining mobility, well being, and strength of the body. Many of us are aware of the apparent benefits of physiotherapy, such as it:
But, few of us know about the hidden benefits of physiotherapy. In this article, we will discuss the lesser known benefits of physiotherapy. 
Stimulates sound sleepPeople are often unable to get a sound sleep when they are battling with pain in the joints, arms or legs. Unsound sleep can cause many health issues such as heart attack, diabetes, and high blood pressure, to name a few. If you also experience pain in your limbs and joints and it hampers your sleep, then you must consider physiotherapy as a solution to this issue. With regular regime of physiotherapy sessions, it is possible to restore the natural mobility of limbs and joints. Plus, physiotherapy results in reducing pain thereby improving mobility. This aids in finding a better sleeping position, thereby, inducing sound sleep. Adjusts digestive system concernsMany people complain about having issues with digestive health. But, very few are aware of the fact that limited movement of the body and poor posture can affect the digestive system. Physiotherapy can help in treating issues related to the digestive system as it brings the body in motion. It includes various exercises that increases mobility that in turn helps in easing indigestion. Facilitates easy breathingDue to the limited movement of the body, the chest muscles also weaken. So, when you set your body in motion, you experience difficulty in breathing. As a result, to save yourself from breathing difficulties, you avoid physical activities that involve exertion. Physiotherapy helps in treating breathing issues, as it consists of breathing techniques that focus on opening the airway for easy breathing. Treats women’s health concernsPhysiotherapy successfully addresses the specific problem pertaining to women’s health such as health issues during pregnancy, osteoporosis, hormonal issues, and urinary incontinence. With proper body mechanics, relaxation techniques, strengthening, and stretching exercises, many such health concerns are treatable with physiotherapy. Helps you avoid surgeryMany health issues are treatable with the help of physiotherapy. This eliminates the need for surgery, which, in turn, helps in reducing healthcare costs. If you have met with an accident that has caused an injury, then physiotherapy may be a possible solution. If there is a need for surgery, then with the help of pre and post-surgery physical therapy you can recover faster from the surgery. At InHome Physical Therapy and Massage, we provide mobile physical therapy services for different communities of people. We have specialized physical therapy services for athletes, seniors, busy professionals, and busy households. Call us to book an appointment today. 
Aging comes with its own issues. And, one of them is the inability to perform certain activities in way that you may have been able to perform when you were young. As the body becomes infirm, it is unable to withstand the stress from everyday physical activities. But, there is a way you can still keep your body healthy. Massage therapy is the solution. In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of massage for seniors. Geriatric MassageGeriatric massage is a type of massage therapy specially designed for seniors to address the needs of their aging bodies. This type of massage is helpful to improve and maintain overall health as the body ages. Geriatric massage not only helps to maintain physical health but also helps maintain mental health. It involves an application of gentle pressure, oil or lotion, and passive stretching, which allows working on the body without causing any friction to the skin. These techniques help a senior’s body in the following ways: 1) Removes Muscle StiffnessSeniors are often unable to perform a lot of physical activities as their body starts to become infirm with the growing age. As a result, the muscles of the body tend to become stiff that prevents smooth movement of the body. Massage therapy can help to a large extent to improve blood flow and remove muscle stiffness. 2) Enhances Blood CirculationProper blood circulation is crucial for seniors as inadequate flow of blood can give birth to many health issues that may get severe overtime. Peripheral artery disease of legs, blood clotting, and diabetes are some of the health complications that are caused due to poor blood circulation. As massage therapy involves kneading, gentle stroking, and application of light pressure on various parts of the body, it helps in improving blood circulation in the body. 3) Improves BalanceWith old age, the bones become weak and lose its strength. As a result, many seniors mention falling as one of the major concerns. Due to weak bones, it becomes difficult to maintain proper balance. Massage therapy helps increase the blood flow and also improves proprioception. This effect of massage therapy, in turn, helps in improving balance and reduces the chances of falling. 4) Reduces the Pain of ArthritisMassage therapy helps treat arthritis. While it can’t fully cure arthritis, it helps in relieving joint pain. With the help of various techniques used to remove the stiffness of muscles and tissues, massage therapy improves the blood flow to the joints thereby relieving pain. 5) Combats Stress, Anxiety, and DepressionMassage therapy helps in lowering cortisol levels in the body upto 50%. It also helps in increasing the levels of serotonin and dopamine that aids in stabilizing the mood. As a result, massage therapy is a proven treatment for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. At Inhome Physical Therapy and Massage, we have specialized massages therapies for seniors. Contact us for more information about geriatric massage or book an appointment for massage sessions at your home. |
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