If you are chronically stressed out, with a headache, neck and back pains to boot, massage therapy may be for you.
Ellen Collins is a licensed massage therapist based in White Plains. Collins, who”™s been offering massage therapy since 1986, says she”™s now seeing a lot more people coming in and complaining about chronic stress and stress-related ailments.
“I am finding that more and more people are seeking out massage therapy to deal with the stress in their bodies that ends up giving them pain,” said Collins, who is affiliated with a gym-and-fitness facility in Armonk. “I have a feeling that a lot of people have realized that it”™s an important part of an overall wellness effort. Massage therapy relaxes people and helps their muscles relax and helps alleviate all that tension in the body that can be so destructive. These days I find that everyone just seems to be very stressed.”
Chronic stress can have long-term effects, Collins said. Researchers have even shown that prolonged physiological stress can harm a component of human cells called telomeres, pieces of DNA that protect cell chromosomes. Damaged telomeres are sometimes associated with slower wound healing, lowered immune systems and even earlier mortality, according to studies by the University of California, San Francisco.
Some local companies are also finding that offering massage therapies can be an effective part of stress-management programs for workers and have set up weekly on-site massage sessions with a reduced rate for employees, Collins said. ”˜Some of my colleagues do a lot of work through companies that hire them. Companies find that they have happier, more productive employees. And so it”™s a cost-effective program for the companies.”
Jack Pessin is a White Plains-based stress-management specialist who”™s been a licensed acupuncturist for the past 11 years as well as a licensed massage therapist for 13 years. Pessin says he”™s seeing a lot of people who are coming in for the first time this year.
“As far as people in general, I am finding that more people are having the treatment. The therapeutic massage is very relaxing. It can alleviate stress-related ailments and help calm the nervous system,” he said.
He added that acupuncture can also be an effective tool. “This is not something that you would typically think would help with stress and anxiety. But the acupuncture can be very helpful in managing stress and reducing pain.”
Pessin advised that there are a few simple techniques that can help alleviate physiological stress such as back and neck pains. One of them involves proper body posture. “When you are sitting down, be aware of your body posture. So that when you are driving, your shoulders should not be all the way up to your ears. And again, when you are using your phone, your shoulders should not be next to your ears. These things can really cause stress from the body. A proper posture can translate into less stress for the body.”
He also recommends learning a proper breathing technique. “No matter where you are, who you are, you can learn to breath better and deeper. It can be an important tool in fighting stress. Deeper breathing can allow more oxygen into the blood which helps a person to be more relaxed. You can learn this from yoga, tai chi and qigong,” Pessin said.
Some hospitals also offer massage therapy, acupuncture and other non-traditional therapies to help patients heal and recover. There are numerous studies that show the effectiveness of these therapies when used in conjunction with traditional medicine, according to the Newburgh-based Northern Metropolitan Hospital Association.
