As people are tending to work longer and longer hours in the office musculoskeletal and repetitive strain injuries are becoming more common in the workplace. In 2007/08 an estimated 442 000 individuals in Britain, who worked in the last year, believed that they were experiencing work-related stress at a level that was making them ill, according to the Labour Force Survey.
The same survey also indicated that self-reported work-related stress, depression or anxiety accounted for an estimated 13.5 million lost working days in Britain in 2007/08 and that stress and muscular-skeletal problems cause up to 70% of long-term disabilities.
An increasing number of research studies show that massage has a wide range of benefits and research has verified that office workers massaged regularly were more alert, performed better and were less stressed than those who weren't massaged.
Although not a difinitive list, here is a quick run down of the top 10 benefits of massage:
1. Relieves stress
2. Improves concentration and clarity
3. Alleviates muscle tension and stiffness
4. Increases joint flexibility and range of movement
5. Helps prevent repetitive strain injuries
6. Improves circulation of blood and lymph
7. Pumps oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs
8. Improve the condition of the body's largest organ the skin
9. Strengthens the immune system
10. Helps relieve tension-related headaches and effects of eye-strain
Of course one of the main benefits of massage is the simple fact that it feels so great, especially when it is performed by a trained professional who knows exactly where to apply just the right amount of pressure to relieve those tight tired muscles.