| It is estimated that 25% of Americans suffer | | | | Crohn’s Disease, a massage focusing on the |
| from a digestive disorder, such as Crohn’s | | | | head, neck, shoulders and back, such as chair |
| Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), | | | | massage, is a valuable tool in relieving tension and |
| constipation and other conditions that affect | | | | pain. Chair massage can be performed in the |
| digestion and elimination. Although many factors | | | | client’s preferred setting, in a session lasting |
| play a role in developing digestive disorders, one | | | | an average of fifteen minutes. A chair massage |
| common element is stress. Massage therapy | | | | is an affordable option for those who would like |
| – mainly in the form of chair massage or | | | | to experience its stress relieving benefits several |
| abdominal massage – is proven to effectively | | | | times a week. |
| reduce stress and can also mitigate symptoms | | | | Poor diet choices are also culprits in digestive |
| connected to digestive disorders. | | | | disorders. Improper mixing of protein and |
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, is a condition | | | | starches can cause the digestive process to |
| that can cause recurrent diarrhea, painful | | | | become labored and inefficient, leading to |
| constipation or both. Research into the cause of | | | | abdominal pain and discomfort. An abdominal |
| IBS highlights the effect that stress and muscle | | | | massage prompts the release of hormones |
| tension have on hindering the proper function of | | | | responsible for processing food. Abdominal |
| the organs that control digestion and | | | | massage also helps to carry the processed |
| elimination. The exact relationship between stress | | | | material through the stomach, intestines and |
| and gastrointestinal function is the subject of | | | | colon. |
| ongoing research, but many patients with | | | | Effective mitigation of stress is paramount for |
| digestive disorders such as IBS report stress as | | | | those who suffer from digestive disorders. |
| the main trigger for their symptoms. | | | | Although there may be other root causes, stress |
| Massage provides immediate results in terms of | | | | is the most common trigger for the unpleasant |
| stress and anxiety reduction. This is beneficial | | | | symptoms associated with these conditions. |
| for those who suffer from stress related | | | | Adding regular chair massage or abdominal |
| digestive disorders and can also help to keep | | | | massage to a conventional treatment plan is an |
| symptoms from such conditions from becoming | | | | affordable and proven method to alleviate anxiety |
| worse. Although an abdominal massage is | | | | and stress. |
| contraindicated during flare-ups of IBS and | | | | |