Massage will ease the negative effects of the holiday season

While the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, they are also the most stressful and the time when your good eating habits go out the window. Stress and poor eating habits can lead to digestive disorders that leave you feeling uncomfortable and a sluggish. Massage therapy can reduce the effects of digestive disorders and make you feel like yourself again in no time!

How does massage relieve digestive disorders? 

To treat digestive disorders, massage therapists apply gentle manual pressure to the outside of the abdomen to feel the internal structures of the colon and small intestine. In some cases, the massage therapist may be able to feel an area in the digestive tract that is congested. Massaging the affected area can help stimulate the spontaneous movement of the digestive tract (a process called peristalsis) and reduce symptoms such as cramping, bloating, gas, and constipation. Abdominal massage may help remove masses that have become trapped in the intestinal wall. The application of heat or ice can be used along with gentle massage to stimulate the bowel or to reduce swelling.

Massage can also be used to relieve anxiety and tension that often worsen irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, abdominal massage should not be used during an acute IBS flare-up as it can aggravate symptoms. Neck, shoulder, back, and leg massages are helpful in reducing tension and can be performed during an IBS flare-up without complications.

Massage can be used during periods of remission for patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease to manage chronic pain, but it should also not be used during an active flare-up of ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease as it can exacerbate the pain and increase the risk of intestinal perforation.

If you’re feeling these negative side effects of the busy holiday season, have any questions related to structural integration or massage, or if you would like to schedule an appointment with Structura, please call us at 801-897-8711.