Are you experiencing shoulder pain?

If so, you are not alone. Whether you suffer from tendonitis, injury, or disease, much of the discomfort you feel in your shoulder can be relieved with massage therapy.

In fact, a consumer survey conducted by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) revealed that more and more people are using massage specifically to help manage their pain. Shoulder massage is a wonderful way to not only achieve pain relief, but to also receive many other important health benefits.

The Benefits of Massage for Your Shoulder

Shoulder massage has been proven to improve range of motion and ease the pain associated with shoulder problems. However, not only does massage help you get pain relief, this therapy treatment also help the body in many other amazing ways.

Shoulder Massage:

1. improves blood circulation
2. provides deep relaxation to the massaged muscle
3. stimulates your lymph system
4. stimulates the release of endorphins, the bodys natural painkillers
5. speeds up the elimination of your body waste
6. aids in digestion
7. blocks pain signal pathways to your brain
and provides a natural sense of well being

Self Shoulder Massage Techniques

If your shoulder pain is not severe, you may want to administer self shoulder massage techniques while you are at home. Start by squeezing your injured shoulder with the opposite hand. Then, kneed the shoulder repeatedly. You can also make circular pressure with your fingertips on both sides of your spine. Try applying penetrating massage oil to the shoulder to ensure smooth movements.

You can also incorporate heat and cold into your shoulder massage. Applying ice to your sore shoulder will reduce both inflammation and pain, while heat relaxes your tense muscles for additional pain relief.

Visit a Massage Therapist for a Shoulder Massage

For a professional shoulder massage, visit a massage therapist. Before the shoulder massage, discuss the problems you are having with your shoulder. Your shoulder massage therapist will know specific techniques that may help reduce the pain for your individual problem.

If you are experiencing severe shoulder pain, please see your doctor. Discuss your injury or condition with a professional. He or she may want you to take pain medication, such as Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen (Advil), along with shoulder massage to (hopefully) alleviate your pain completely.

Also, keep in mind that shoulder massage is not a miracle cure. You must visit your massage therapist routinely for shoulder massage therapy to receive long-term, positive results to reduce your pain and regain full range shoulder function for sustained pain relief.