According to the Mayo Clinic, massage benefits can include: reducing stress and increasing relaxation; reducing pain and muscle soreness and tension; improving circulation, energy and alertness; lowering heart rate and blood pressure; and improving immune function. While more research is needed to confirm the benefits of massage, some studies have found massage may also be helpful for anxiety, digestive disorders, fibromyalgia, headaches, insomnia related to stress, low back pain, myofascial pain syndrome, nerve pain, soft tissue strains or injuries, sports injuries, temporomandibular joint pain, and upper back and neck pain.

Of course, the Mayo Clinic advises that, despite its benefits, massage isn’t meant as a replacement for regular medical care, and you should let your doctor know you’re trying massage and still be sure to follow any standard treatment plans you have.

I became an advocate for massage after my doctor recommended it to me and I discovered first-hand how life-changing it can be. I am 65 years old and first started grooming (part-time) when I was 21 years old. I only began grooming full-time when I opened Love Fur Dogs in Glencoe, Illinois at the age of 56 in 2014. I have had seven surgeries on my hands and wrists, plus two knee and one hip replacements in the last 15 years. I was overweight for years following back-to-back pregnancies. I did not heed the warnings that I would regret the negative health impacts later. I wish I had listened…

I now have severe arthritis and bone spurs in my hands, in addition to issues in other parts of my musculoskeletal structure that have forced a gradual reduction of my hands-on duties as a groomer. I truly hate not being able to do what I love and need to do.

Once I made the commitment (far too late) to change to a healthier lifestyle five years ago, which includes deep tissue massages every week or two, as well as changes in eating habits and activity levels, I was able to go off pain medications and have lost 85 pounds to date. I have had no further surgeries and far fewer doctor appointments. I walk or bike several miles on most days, I am eating better and feel healthier now than when I was in my forties. I credit my massage therapist with not only adding years to my ability to work in my shop, but also contributing substantially to my overall health and, in that regard, I am a living testament to the benefits of massage.

“Being a massage therapist is not an easy job but it gives a lot of satisfaction, and that is why I love to do it. I can see the results of my work almost immediately when the patient is still lying on the table. During the session, many people feel better and say, ‘Oh, I feel better already.’ Other people feel better a day or two after the massage. Sometimes they see an improvement after two or three sessions, and that’s why I encourage patients to take two to three massages before they decide that massage is working for them.

So, what have I learned as an official old person now? A regular schedule is important, take care of your health while you are young, maintain a healthy weight, don’t smoke (and if you do, prioritize quitting), eat a healthy diet—especially eliminating processed foods—and it is very important that massage therapy be a weekly or, at minimum, monthly part of your life.

While many people enjoy massage, most also have excuses for not getting them regularly. Here are three of the most common reasons and how to overcome them:

1. I can’t afford it.

Think of all the things you do to splurge and pamper yourself; little expenses that add up over a month of things you buy because you just want them. If you cut just one such regular indulgence out, like five-dollar cups of coffee instead of making your own, you could easily afford regular massages.

As a grooming business owner, I have the company pay for my massages as a qualified business expense prescribed by a medical professional. Building weekly massages into my budget is as important a part of my grooming shop’s expenses as the shampoo I buy.

If you are employed as a groomer, speak to your supervisors or owners about offering this as a benefit. Businesses are interested in finding and maintaining good grooming employees, especially since the pandemic increased the dog population significantly and groomers are in shorter supply. If you make your case, they may cover this expense for you as an investment in their workforce.

While I can’t offer legal advice, you can check to see if regular therapeutic massages are covered or partially covered by your medical insurance, especially if prescribed by your doctor. While insurance companies may view massage primarily as an “alternative treatment,” according to the Internal Revenue Service, massage therapy can be a qualified medical expense if all the criteria are met. The IRS ruling states: “Medical expenses are the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and the costs for treatments affecting any part or function of the body.”

2. I don’t have time.

Interview potential massage businesses. Discuss their procedures and protections. Ask them for their guidelines for client conduct towards the massage professional as well. Developing a professional rapport with the business that offers the massages and learning what their standards and procedures are for protecting your comfort and privacy can go a long way towards helping you to relax and feel safe.

Also, you can choose the gender of your massage therapist which you are most comfortable with. I had female massage therapists for many years, but one time when a last-minute absence offered me a male substitute, I gave him a try because of the excellent professional standards of everyone associated with the company. I ended up switching to him permanently because the physical strength of his hands has been of tremendous benefit to my health. Like every massage therapist I have ever been to (and I have been to dozens in my lifetime), he was, and always has been, a consummate professional.

Massage can be full body or just partial. You can remain clothed or partially clothed, and you will always be fully covered by sheets and blankets. Understandably, massage businesses have rigorous practices that maintain your ability to relax and be safe. Remember, masseuses are dedicated professionals with extensive training in human anatomy and maintaining your health, just as you might need care from a physical therapist after a critical injury or surgery.

So, choose to prioritize and care for your own health with regular massages. One massage every year as a special treat may feel good, but it is likely not enough to produce lasting effects, especially for those who suffer from chronic conditions, physically active people like athletes or professionals like us who work with our bodies for a living. Regular massage therapy can be a great addition to wellness routines.

1. Wahl Classroom. (2019, May 17). All The Things I Wish I Had Known Before Beginning My Grooming Career. Wahl. blog.wahlanimal.com/all-the-things-i-wish-i-had-known-before-beginning-my-grooming-career-1