Benefits of Massage Therapy

Massages aren't just indulgent, they have more benefits than you may have thought.

Ana Lohrmann recently got a massage at Mercy Medical Center's Medi-Spa. After having surgery, she found that it helped her.

"I've been getting massages for a long time for many different reasons," Lohrmann said. "I have pain and discomfort from treatment and anxiety. Massages really help with the pain and the anxiety and just with dealing with the treatments."

According to registered nurse Donna Chang, director of the Medi-Spa at Mercy, it is about more than relaxation.

"It helps on so many other levels, like flexibility, balance. I think for stress, it's amazing. It decreases the stress hormone cortisol by 30 percent, and at the same time, it enhances the mood chemical serotonin," Chang said.

Therapists said by getting a massage more often, patients can reap many short and long-term health benefits that keep the body healthy, from relieving stress to boosting immunity and reducing the risk of cancer. And, it's important to prepare for a visit to the therapist.

"Come hydrated. It's really important because we're stimulating a detox response, so you need lots of water and fluids to help ease that process," said Rosemary Scavullo Flickinger, LMT, a licensed massage therapist.

Lohrmann said she likes the human connection she gets with a massage.

"The human connection, just having someone intentionally touching me in a loving, healing way is just invaluable," she said.

View the interview with Donna Chang, RN, and Rosemary Scavullo Flickinger, LMT, regarding the benefits of massage therapy.