Chair Massage
By CITAL Guest blogger: Kelly Helm, Associate Professor, Kinesiology
As the semester begins to wind down and the holiday season begins to ramp up, stress can become an overwhelming obstacle which can prevent us from getting grading done or enjoying our time away from work as well.
Stress
A particular type of stress known as distress results when events are perceived in an adverse way causing negative emotions, anxiety, and tension. The ability to manage stress may have an impact on an individual’s mental health. What happens when the stress is left unattended? Answer- a body drained of much needed energy and resources resulting in a compromised immune system. A weakened immune system can lead to physiological issues including headaches, diminished sleep, muscle pain, depression, increased blood pressure, and many other ailments.
According to WebMD, 43% of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress and 75 to 90% of all doctor’s office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints. These numbers are high. One way to remedy the adverse impact of stress on body energy and immunity is therapeutic massage. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) supports massage as a valuable tool for alleviating the psychological and physiological suffering from the impact of stress. “Psychologically, the touch of the therapist helps relieve anxiety and fear” which may assist the person in regaining control of a stress-inducing situation. Physically, a skillfully applied massage sends soothing, pleasant sensations to the brain, which slows the secretion of stress hormones, slows and deepens one’s breathing, lowers blood pressure, slows one’s pulse rate and relaxes the body to the point that it begins to recover and rejuvenate (Chertok, 2012).
One Remedy
A chair massage is a short 10 to 15 minute massage which takes place with the client in a seated position in an ergonomically designed chair. The client rests their face in a cradle at the top of the chair releasing pressure on the head and neck. The arms and legs are also supported. The focus of a seated massage is the shoulders, back, neck, and arms. Seated massage doesn’t require a change of clothing as the massage occurs over clothing. The therapist works to relax the muscles by relieving tension through kneading and compression movements.
Some benefits of chair massage include:
- Increased circulation and blood flow
- Stimulate lymphatic tissue to flush toxins
- Release endorphins
- Reduce anxiety, fatigue, and depression
- Reduce muscular tension
- Improve quality of sleep
Chair massage sounds like a great idea to add to any wellness program!
The University provides opportunities for chair massages. Contact Paula Shreve at x5095 to set up an appointment for December 4th. Massages will take place in the Union Victory Bell Room from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. They are $10 for 10 minutes.
The Counseling Center also has lots of way to help you relax. Visit their website for more information on their newly added relaxation chair, relaxation cds, light therapy, aromatherapy and much more – https://www.valpo.edu/counseling/cc/stress_relaxationroom.php
References:
Chertok, G., (2012). Stress Management for the Modern Adult.