ARTHRITIS
If you suffer from the pain, swelling, or stiffness of arthritis, you are not alone. Millions suffer from this disease which means literally "joint inflammation" and is a general term for over 100 conditions. Arthritis can strike any age, and affects more women than men.

Even though there is no known cure for arthritis, certain measures can slow down the process and help you live more comfortably.Therapeutic massage is one of these measures.

Why Therapeutic Massage?
Therapeutic Massage can be a powerful alli in any program for managing your arthritis and maintaining as normal a life as possible. Massage is especially effective in addressing the most common side effects caused by painful and stiff joints, muscle tension and pain, poor circulation, and limitations on normal movement and exercise.

Pain Relief: Massage can reduce the devastating grip of arthritic pain by helping you refocus attention on the pleasant sensation of nurturing touch. In addition, current research indicates that massage stimulates the release of endorphins, your body's natural pain killers, which can give you a welcome "pain break."

Reduced Muscle Tension: Muscles automatically tighten protectively around any painful area such as an arthritic joint. The resulting muscle tension limits your range of motion and can be a source of pain in itself. Therapeutic massage works directly with muscles to release tension and serves to calm the nervous system, allowing your muscles to relax further.

Increased Circulation: Massage has been shown to increase circulation, cleansing tissues of irritating and painful by-products of arthritic inflammation and improving nutrition to both muscles and joints. Swelling often lessens with massage as excess fluid is pushed into the circulatory system where it can be eliminated.

Support for exercise: Research indicates that maintaining mobility and exercising appropriately can slow the degenerative process of arthritis, both in the joints themselves and in muscles which can atrophy with disuse. Because massage can reduce discomfort in muscles around your joints and improve joint mobility, you may find it easier and less painful to stretch and exercise appropriately.