In a world where stressors seem to multiply each day, massage may be just what the doctor ordered. Studies show that this therapeutic touch reduces stress hormones while increasing the feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine. Stress relief is only the beginning.

Massage may also:

Different massage styles offer specific benefits. Options include: Swedish, deep tissue, sports, craniosacral and hot stone massage.

Cynthia Bauer, director of musculoskeletal outpatient services at Good Shepherd, uses therapeutic massage for a number of purposes. She recommends it for breaking down scars, reducing muscle soreness in athletes and decreasing swelling in lymphedema patients.

“After exercise, waste product can build up in the body’s tissues as certain chemicals break down in the cells. Massage increases circulation, allowing the body to remove fluid from these areas and reducing muscle soreness,” she says.