Massage therapy

Overview

During a massage, a certified massage therapist or medical professional manipulates your body's soft tissues (muscle, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and skin), using varying degrees of pressure and movement. Your massage therapy session will involve different types of strokes, of varying intensity, depending on your need.

You may benefit from massage therapy to decrease swelling and impaired joint mobility, ease muscle spasms and muscle tension, and improve circulation. Massage therapy also may help to reduce stress, anxiety and pain; improve your levels of alertness; enhance sleep patterns; and release your body's natural painkillers (endorphins). Some studies show that the relaxation response, induced by therapies such as massage, may enhance immune function.

At Mayo Clinic, massage therapy may be recommended to help people cope with the pain and stress of cancer, heart disease, stomach problems, fibromyalgia, nicotine dependence or other conditions.

Why choose Mayo Clinic for massage therapy

• Expertise and experience. Mayo Clinic's Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program combines conventional medicine with complementary and alternative medicine to promote physical, mental and spiritual wellness. Doctors and certified massage therapists at Mayo Clinic work together to coordinate a massage therapy treatment plan for an injury or condition as part of your care plan.
• Latest tools and techniques. Mayo practitioners offer numerous specialized massage techniques, tailored to your treatment needs.
• Evidence-based approach. Mayo doctors recommend treatments based on research that demonstrates the effectiveness of certain complementary and integrative medicine therapies. Mayo researchers conduct studies to constantly improve treatments.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

Why Choose Mayo Clinic
What Sets Mayo Clinic Apart

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