At some point we all have personally, or know of someone, affected by stress. There are a multitude of ways stress presents itself:

Stress related insomnia, digestive disorders, hearing or vision issues, high blood pressure, anxiety, fibromyalgia, soft tissue strains or injuries such as lower back stiffness, neck pain or upper back tension, headaches and migraines…the list goes on!

Common causes of stress symptoms

Some common causes of soft tissue discomfort that occur in everyday life can include:

• Sitting for long periods of time in one position at your desk
• Looking for long periods of time at a computer screen or down at your mobile phone
• Always picking up or carrying a bag on the same side
• Always answering the phone using the same side

All these actions when performed repeatedly in daily life can lead to chronic pain conditions. Soft Tissue Therapy can help reduce the development of painful muscular patterning and help release muscular tension that builds up from these daily stresses.

How can Soft Tissue Therapy help reduce stress symptoms?

Soft Tissue Therapy has been found to be an effective treatment modality to help with stress management because it can help reduce tension, anxiety, improve circulation and strengthen the immune system.

Scientific studies have found that upper back and neck massage and manipulation can help reduce migraine headache attacks in patients. The preliminary evidence shows that regular Soft Tissue sessions can help to reduce stress levels, but the challenge that most people have is finding the time!

We recommend setting aside time in your schedule for a treatment session once a week, every other week or even once a month to focus on those physical and emotional symptoms of stress that a Soft Tissue Therapist can help alleviate. Consistency is key so fitting regular sessions in to your schedule will be hugely beneficial, however that looks for you.

A good therapist can help identify postural issues, muscular imbalances, relieve muscular tension and headaches using soft tissue techniques as well as give specific stretches or exercises for you to do at home or at the office to help combat some of the stresses of your everyday and occupational lives.

Beyond the benefits of Soft Tissue Therapy for specific muscular conditions, a session away from the stresses of your daily and occupational life can give you time to relax, reconnect and focus on your body, mind and overall health.

References

• Noudeh et al., 2012
• Rapaport et al., 2012
• Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2012; 5(1): 5–13.
• Reduction of Current Migraine Headache Pain Following Neck Massage and Spinal Manipulation
• Younes Jahangiri Noudeh, MD,1,* Nasibeh Vatankhah, MD,1 and Hamid R. Baradaran, MD, PhD
• J Altern Complement Med. 2012 Aug; 18(8): 789–797.
• A Preliminary Study of the Effects of Repeated Massage on Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal and Immune Function in Healthy Individuals: A Study of Mechanisms of Action and Dosage
• Mark H. Rapaport, MD, Pamela Schettler, PhD, and Catherine Bresee.