The benefits of massage on the human body are countless!
And these massage benefits include increased immune function (by lifting the activity level of the body's natural "killer T cells," which fight off viruses), pain management, a boost of mental health and wellness, stress relief and associated conditions, such as tension headaches.
Massage boosts the immune system and relieves tension. However, when your body is active in fighting off a virus like Covid-19, a massage can worsen things.
When can a client consider receiving a massage after contracting Covid-19?
According to current studies, the time from onset to clinical recovery for mild cases is approximately two weeks and is 3-6 weeks for patients with a severe or critical response to the disease.
Recovering patients with mild symptoms become low-risk around ten days after falling ill.
One journal revealed that traces of the virus could persist in the body for up to two weeks after symptoms had vanished, as the patients were no longer coughing or sneezing. Other sources have shown that the virus survived in one Chinese patient’s respiratory tract for 37 days – above the average of 24 days for those with critical disease status.
At the height of the pandemic in 2020, Two negative swab tests on consecutive days are considered the all-clear – meaning self-isolation can end, and a patient can theoretically begin having contact with others, including massage. But now, with the less virulent versions of the virus, we would say a similar response could be taken at ten days post-peak of infection
Massage will then have the potential to speed up your recovery process, and it is a beautiful medium to get rid of tightness from all the coughing, sneezing and muscular pain; or similar musculoskeletal symptoms of long COVID.
Working from home.
Massage addresses all the symptoms associated with spending long hours working at your desk from home. It provides relief from head, neck and back aches, relieves stress and muscular tension, and increases flexibility, providing relaxation to the affected muscles and the whole body.
On top of that, it does improve concentration and mental alertness and reduces migraines. Massage therapy relaxes muscle tissue, which reduces painful contractions and spasms. Massage will also reduce nerve compression. When muscles are contracted, they might compress the nerves around them, causing conditions such as sciatica.
Don’t forget the beauty effects, where improved circulation revives the skin and complexion, with a change in colour that is noticeable almost instantly.
If you are an active individual, massage treatments will help you significantly in preventing injuries and increasing your range of motion.
Next time a headache hits, book last minute massage! There is always an excuse to treat yourself!
Get in touch with the team at Wimbledon Clinic Massage with any queries.