People often discount the importance of post-surgery rehabilitation. It is common for people to reduce movement for fear of causing themselves pain, but not moving can actually make recovery take longer. The process of post-surgical rehab allows the body to re-learn its natural movements and keep scar tissue and fascia from building up and restricting movement. Adding massage therapy into your rehabilitation regimen, when your doctor feels you are ready, can get you back to feeling better much faster.

Massage therapy plays two main roles in post-surgery rehab. First, it helps improve joint movement and flexibility by warming up stiff muscles from surgery. Second, it helps increase the circulation of blood, oxygen and nutrients throughout the body into tissues and vital organs that have been affected by surgery. Overall, this helps accelerate the recovery process.

​When visiting a massage therapist after surgery, make sure to be clear about your particular surgery and how your body is feeling. It is also helpful to have recommendations from your physician as to any restrictions they suggest for that stage of your healing. This will ensure that your massage therapist knows which muscles to target and what movements may need to be avoided. It is also helpful to work with a massage therapist who has experience with injury and surgery recovery. I have worked with clients recovering from hip replacement, rotator cuff repair and knee surgeries.

​People often associate keeping their body healthy with regular exercise and maintaining a well-balanced diet. While both are important, stretching and relieving muscle tension brought on by exercise and the general stresses of life are often forgotten. Going to see a massage therapist monthly can help you mentally and physically in many ways:

• The risk of injury is reduced by maintaining muscle health and flexibility
• The immune system is strengthened due to increased circulation of blood and nutrients throughout the body
• Stress and anxiety are reduced when your body and mind are able to relax, which can also result in lower blood pressure
• Chronic pain caused by arthritis and Fibromyalgia is reduced
• The quality of your sleep can improve, which will lead to better concentration and alertness throughout the day
• Migraine sufferers can experience a reduction in pain and frequency
• Depression and withdrawal symptoms can be lessened and more manageable  

Finding the right massage therapist to add into your routine can make such a big difference in how you feel on a daily basis. Angie Blakemore Massage has the right ingredients to keep you on a healthy path.