Massage therapy on rise in Spain

MASSAGE therapy is a key alternative health method in the prevention and treatment of a number of ailments, according to one expert.

It is already widely practiced in the US and is becoming increasingly popular in Spain and across Europe.

Different types of massage are often used to help with pain relief, rehabilitation from sports injuries and the reduction of stress.

But according to Arnold Kelly, a massage therapist based in the US, it can also lower blood pressure, help prevent colds and enhance skin tone.

“Immediately following massage, you can experience reduced tightness in the muscles, improved blood flow and breathing, plus reduced anxiety and stress,” Kelly said.

“Over the long-term, the benefits of massage accumulate.

“It can increase a person’s range of movement, strengthen the immune system and provide an improved sense of well-being.”

Massage therapy – often considered a form of complimentary and alternative medicine – is also sometimes used by those suffering from anxiety and depression.

Kelly adds: “When deciding which type of massage therapy to have, you need to consider how experienced the therapist is and whether the method focuses more on physical or mental aspects.”