Everyone deals with pain differently, be it acute or chronic pain. However, the first thing anyone would likely resort to is a painkiller. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, are sold over the counter and they can even be used by professional athletes without the risk of failing anti-drug tests.

Even if there is a large variety of NSAIDs on the market, and you do not need a doctor’s prescription to buy them, it does not mean that they are 100% safe. Every kind of drug has rare and unexpected side effects, and can be allergic to certain people. Allergic reactions to NSAIDs can vary from a mild rash to sleepiness, dizziness, and various other unpleasant or dangerous reactions.

So, if drugs are not really safe, what is the alternative to dealing with pain? The answer is a technique developed and used by people for nearly four millennia: massage. Massage had started out as a relaxation technique, but by the time Hippocrates wrote the oath doctors still take at the present, it was recognised as a therapeutic activity.

So, how can massage help you deal with pain? Here are a few thoughts on the matter:

  1. Blood Flow Stimulation

Through the application of pressure over an injured area, the massage therapist encourages blood flow. An inflammation, accompanied by pain, usually occurs when there is a strangulation in the proper blood flow in the respective area. Thus, the muscle and tendon fibres do not receive the needed flow of oxygen which is critical to the proper functioning of our entire body.

Pain caused by sprain, dead leg, plantar fasciitis or other injuries which cause inflammation, can be reduced through massage.

  1. Massage Stimulates Muscle Flexibility

Throughout the rest and recovery period after an injury, you will not exercise the injured leg or arm at all. This will cause the muscles to lose their flexibility and endurance to effort. Once you start exercising again, you will experience more pain as your injured member is retrained to gain its flexibility and strength.

You can avoid these inconveniences by adding massage therapy to your recovery plan, both as a pain relief technique and as a way of keeping your muscle flexible and prepared for the moment when you are allowed to get back on the running track.

  1. Massage Prevents the Formation of Scar Tissue

One of the problems associated with the healing of muscle rupture is the formation of scar tissue. Scar tissues are problematic because they will reduce your overall flexibility and prevent you from regaining your initial level of performance. They are also one of the causes of chronic pain in the area of the injury. Massage is proven to prevent the formation of scar tissue by continually stimulating blood flow and the correct regeneration of the muscle or fibre tissue.

  1. Massage Is Ideal for Chronic Pain Treatment

Let us now address one of the most sensitive topics: chronic pain. Neck pain and lower back pain are among the most frequent types of chronic pain. Massage therapy is one of the most efficient approaches to help patients improve their quality of life, regain their mobility, and have less episodes of pain to deal with.

In an age when painkillers are easily available to anyone, there are healthy and safe approaches to dealing with pain that you need to be aware of. Massage is one of these approaches and it is a highly effective one, both for professional athletes and people who exercise in the attempt of staying fit and healthy.