02/20/2026
3 Things You May Not Know About Massage Therapy
Written by Amanda Ruddick ✨
1. Massage hasn’t always been popular in the U.S.
While massage has been practiced for thousands of years in places like China, Egypt, and Greece, it didn’t really gain popularity in the United States until the early 1900s. It started becoming more accepted when physicians and athletes began using it for recovery and rehabilitation. By the mid-20th century, especially with Olympic and professional athletes using massage for performance and healing, it slowly shifted from being viewed as a luxury to something more therapeutic and respected.
2. Massage can actually help your body heal faster.
Research shows massage may:
✔ Improve circulation and oxygen flow to tissues
✔ Reduce inflammation markers
✔ Decrease muscle soreness and stiffness
✔ Support lymphatic drainage (which helps the body detox naturally)
Some studies have even shown massage can reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and improve recovery after intense physical activity — which is why athletes, surgery patients, and people with chronic pain often benefit from it.
3. Massage is increasingly being recognized as part of medical care.
In many countries, massage therapy has long been integrated into healthcare systems. The U.S. is catching up. Today you’ll find massage used in:
• Hospitals and cancer centers
• Physical therapy clinics
• Chiropractic and integrative medicine offices
• Pain management programs
Many insurance plans now cover massage with a prescription, and research continues to grow showing its benefits for anxiety, chronic pain, headaches, and stress-related conditions. The field is continuing to evolve as more science supports what many of us have known for years — massage is more than relaxation, it’s real healthcare.
