The Role of Massage in Weight Loss

  • By: Nikita
  • Date: August 4, 2021
  • Time to read: 7 min.

A lot of people struggle with weight loss. They try all sorts of diets and exercise routines, but find it difficult to lose the weight they want to lose. There are a lot of reasons for this, and one that many people don’t consider is massage therapy. Massage has been shown to have an effect on metabolism rate, which in turn leads to better fat burning capabilities.

The Science Behind Massage and Weight Loss

Massage increases blood flow throughout your body which eventually can help give your metabolism more power so that you burn off those extra pounds!

Massages are also thought to release endorphins as well as serotonin known for their relaxing properties that both lead positively affect weight loss goals.

In the end, massage can help in weight loss by increasing blood flow throughout the body which eventually gives you more power over metabolism rate.

Massage is a very effective way to lose weight because it reduces inflammation that leads to weight gain, improves the function of the digestive system, and helps you sleep better.

Massage has been shown to cause a significant drop in levels of cortisol, one of the major stress hormones. Cortisol is associated with feelings of anxiety and tension, which are often what lead to overeating. In fact, massage has been shown to be more effective than anti-anxiety medications at reducing levels of cortisol.

Massage also stimulates dopamine release in the body, which creates an overall sense of well-being that can help people eat less.

Some research has shown that massage therapy can change the rate of metabolism. According to a study done by Dr. Scott, an Ohio State College of Medicine professor and researcher who conducted his study on overweight or obese individuals with diabetes mellitus type II, participants showed increased levels of blood glucose following a short period massaged twice daily for twelve weeks when compared to a control group that did not receive massage therapy.

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The idea is simple, really: the more fat cells you have on your body and in your fat tissue, the slower your metabolism will be. So if someone starts exercising but still doesn’t see any weight loss happening, it might help them to consider adding some massages into their routine.

Does Massage Burn Calories?

The act of massaging the muscles in your body will increase your resting metabolic rate (the amount of energy you burn while at rest) for up to 24 hours after a massage session.

Massage sessions can actually burn between 100-300 calories depending on how long it takes and how hard you push yourself during your session.

Some experts even suggest that the average person could potentially burn up to 500 calories in one hour by getting regular massages with full-body work out exercises at home.

A study conducted by the Department of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine found that after two and a half hours, subjects who received massage therapy had an average increase in energy expenditure (bio-energy) of 27% when compared to those who didn’t have any type of contact.

It’s still unclear whether or not this increased energy expenditure is directly related to a higher metabolism, but it’s still worth considering.

Use of Vibrations for Burning Fat: Safety, Side-Effects, Long Term Effects

Vibrating devices which are designed to use vibrations as a form of therapy on the body have been used for years. Massage therapists often will utilize these types of vibration techniques in order to help their clients move through difficult areas and release tension, but they can also be used by anyone who wants to lose weight or is looking for relief from chronic pain.

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When these devices are used for the purpose of weight loss, they’re typically set to a higher frequency so that it can produce more vibrations and heat in order to help someone lose body fat or maintain their weight by stimulating the metabolism rate. Some people also use them simply as massagers because they find them relaxing and think that this will lead to a decrease in stress, which is another factor that can affect weight.

A study done by the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Peking University found that when people used these vibrating devices on one part of their body for 20 minutes each day, they burned more calories and fat than those who didn’t use them at all. In fact, those who used the devices lost an average of 11 pounds in four months.

The effects of these type of massagers are even more tangible when people use them on their abdominal muscles because it increases blood circulation, which is what helps to burn fat cells faster. So if someone’s looking for a way to speed up weight loss and wants something that doesn’t require a lot of time, these devices are worth considering.

Are Vibrating devices Safe for weight loss?

Some people think that vibrating devices are unsafe because they feel it over-stimulates the nerves. But this would happen if someone used a massager for too long of time or on an area where there is already muscle tension. When these types of devices are used properly, however, they can be safe and effective in helping to lose weight.

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Side-Effects of Using Vibrating Devices for Weight Loss

When these devices are used improperly, they can cause muscle fatigue and over-stimulate nerves which will lead to pain. And if someone with a pre-existing medical condition uses one of these types of massagers, it could have an adverse effect on their symptoms or worsen them. But when the proper precautions are taken (such as using for the right duration, avoiding sensitive areas, and getting a doctor’s advice) these types of massagers can be safe.

Long Term Effects of Using Vibrating Devices for Weight Loss

Some people find that using vibrating devices as part of their weight loss routine helps them lose more pounds than when they’re not including this type of therapy.

Others find that it does nothing for them at all, and some people even experience weight gain while using these types of devices because any extra calories they take in might be enough to offset the ones being burned through vibration.

The long term effects vary from person-to-person so you’ll want to experiment with a couple different devices to see what works best for your situation.

Self Massage for Weight Loss

Self-massage can be one of the most effective ways to lose weight because it helps a person by stimulating their metabolism, burning calories faster, and strengthening muscles. When people self-massage they’re basically doing what is known as long strokes on the body which will increase blood flow in that area.

There’s no one specific way to massage yourself and get the benefits of deep tissue muscle massages. However, it is important for you to know how to do it correctly so that you can get the most out of your time with a masseuse.

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You can either go for a professional massage or use some at-home tools such as a foam roller or tennis ball. Massage therapy has been found to reduce pain and improve sleep quality, increase blood circulation, and boost immunity.

In general, massaging improves circulation and flexes muscles in the body which can help relieve pain.

Self Massage Techniques for Weight Loss

Some techniques that would be helpful in weight loss are the following:

-Working on tight muscles, such as those in the neck or back. These types of muscles can lead to headaches and muscle tension which will make it difficult for someone to loose body fat.

-Using circular motions when massaging because this helps with circulation and will get deep into the muscles.

-Focusing on a specific area of the body (such as the thighs, chest, or upper back) with pressure for at least 20 minutes before resting for 30 seconds to allow that part of the muscle to rebuild itself.

Spot Fat Reduction with Massage: Stomach and Thighs

Can Massaging Stomach Reduce Fat?

Massaging the stomach can reduce fat in three ways: by increasing your body temperature, by increasing muscle activity, and by making you sweat.

The practice has been around for a while in Eastern medicine to help with healing and pain management. Massage therapy is also popular as a relaxation technique.

Massaging stomach can effectively reduce fat because it makes you sweat and increases blood flow throughout the body. It also increases muscle activity which helps to burn calories, thereby reducing your weight.

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Can Massaging Thighs Reduce Fat?

Researchers have found that massaging the thighs will increase blood flow to adipose tissue, leading to a reduction in fat cells and an increase in glucose in the blood.

There is a lot of controversy over whether or not massaging the thighs really helps with weight loss. The idea that it is a good idea to massage your thighs is based off of an outdated idea that your body will burn more calories through sweating when you are shaving off pounds.

While this might be true for some people, it isn’t always the case. But regardless, there are other ways to lose weight that don’t involve massaging your thighs. This includes exercising and eating healthier.

People were once told that rubbing your thigh up and down would help with weight loss because the body would sweat more and burn more calories through exertion. This isn’t true for everyone though, and instead there are other ways to lose weight which include exercise and eating healthier.

Final Thoughts

Massage can increase your body temperature which speeds up the metabolism; it stimulates muscle activity, which boosts calorie burn and helps you eliminate body fat; and massage increases blood flow throughout the arm, helping you sweat more to lose weight.

It’s important to keep in mind that just by massaging yourself at home or going for facials at a spa isn’t enough to lose weight. You need to also exercise, eat healthy food, drink lots of water and balance your hormones. A lot of times women will notice their skin looks better when they’ve lost weight so this is often an added bonus from doing all the other things first that ultimately lead to weight loss.

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