Abdominal Massage
By: Chloe Boldt | Registered Massage Therapist | IG @chloeboldt.rmt
Feeling bloated or gassy?
Having irregular or hard-to-pass bowel movements?
Have you mentioned it with your registered massage therapist?
Your bowel movements are personal — not only because it can feel taboo to discuss, but also because everyone’s experience is unique to them.
Constipation affects 16% of people in North America, with that percentage increasing to 33% of people over the age of 60 having the same symptoms — so it’s more common than one would expect.
What is Abdominal Massage?
Abdominal massage is an effective treatment to decrease the symptoms of constipation and relieve bowel restrictions. Your RMT (registered massage therapist) uses a specific sequence of gentle massage strokes over the abdomen to increase blood flow to your digestive tract, as well as physically stimulate the organs of the abdomen, helping to relieve constipation and bloating.
Massage is a non-invasive, drug-free alternative to traditional laxatives, prescriptions and other methods to manage the symptoms of constipation and bloating. Unlike medical procedures or prescription medications, abdominal massage has few side effects and is a safe option for most people!
How does it work?
Your digestive tract moves from your esophagus to your stomach where food is broken down, then from there, your food passes into your small intestine and colon where most nutrient absorption occurs.
The rate at which your intestines pass the contents through is impacted by stress levels, hydration, fibre intake, and postural imbalances.
Abdominal massage draws blood to the intestines, as well as physically manipulates and encourages the contents that pass through the colon to be released. In addition to this, massage also encourages relaxation of the abdominal muscles, which encourages digestion and thereby relieves constipation.
What are the benefits?
- Decrease bloating
- Alleviate menstrual pain
- Promote relaxation
- Tone and strengthen the abdominal muscles
- Release physical and emotional tension
- Decrease muscle spasms
- Increase blood flow to the abdomen
- Decrease anterior hip stiffness
Abdominal massage is a holistic approach to alleviate the symptoms of constipation and feeling bloated; it an be used as a powerful tool for promoting healthy digestion and relieving constipation and bloating.
Be sure to incorporate abdominal massage into your treatment plan with your RMT to reap all the benefits! Have a question? Feel free to contact us to help!
