Did you know that over 60% of American workers experience moderate to high levels of stress? War, increasing price of commodities, the Covid-19 pandemic, all has taken its toll on our physical and mental health causing immense stress and anxiety. In a recent poll "Stress in America" by the American Psychological Association, 87% of respondents cited that the cost of everyday items such as gas and groceries causes a significant amount of stress. It's no secret either that corporate life can be stressful too, adding to the already recent struggles of everyday life. And in yet another online survey this July 2022 by the Harris Poll for Samsonite, 56% of 800 polled respondents said that they feel burnt out at work. Long hours, intense deadlines, and never-ending to-do lists can affect our mental and physical health. It's no wonder that recent scientific research has found that indeed stress can lead to a number of health problems, including heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
While it's true that our bodies are designed to be able handle stress, significantly high doses and constant exposure to stressors and triggers can lead to health imbalance. The effects of long term and chronic stress can have serious implications on our overall health and well-being.
Stress can affect different bodily systems. Stress can affect the musculoskeletal system. Both tension-type headache and migraine headache are linked to chronic muscular tension in the region of the shoulders, neck, and head. Stress has also been connected to musculoskeletal discomfort in the low back and upper extremities, particularly job stress.
Muscles tighten up when the body is stressed. Muscle tension is a reflex reaction to stress—the body's way of defending itself against harm and pain. The muscles tense all at once and then relax as soon as the stress subsides. Constantly being in a state of stress causes the muscles to be tight and on edge. When this happens for prolonged periods of time, it can lead to other problems in the body and even worsen existing disorders.
Stress can also affect the respiratory system causing symptoms such as dyspnea or shortness of breath, and tachypnea also known as rapid breathing through airway constriction. This is rarely an issue for healthy individuals because their bodies can handle the extra strain required to breathe comfortably, but psychological stress may aggravate breathing issues in those with pre-existing respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis). Acute stress can even trigger asthma attacks, while hyperventilation during anxiety and panic attacks.
Stress may also harm the heart and cardiovascular system. Stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenalin, and noradrenalin stimulate signals that lead to increased heart muscle contraction and cardiac rate. Chronic stress can raise blood pressure and put people at risk for hypertension, heart attack, or stroke. Repeated stressors, both acute and chronic, can lead to inflammation in the circulatory system. This is one way that stress contributes to heart attacks. Additionally, how a person responds to stress may affect cholesterol levels.
Stress doesn't just take a toll on our mental health—it can also wreak havoc on our gut. When we're stressed, we may eat more or less than usual, which can lead to heartburn. And that's not all—stress can make these symptoms worse, as well as cause gas, bloating, nausea, stomach discomfort and bowel issues such as constipation.
There are a number of ways to manage stress, but one method that is gaining popularity is massage treatment. Massage therapy has been shown to be an effective stress reliever. It can help to reduce anxiety, improve sleep quality, and increase energy levels. And a great way to combat workplace stress is with corporate massage treatment! More and more businesses are turning to corporate massage treatment as a way to reduce stress levels and improve employee productivity.
If you're looking for a way to help your employees relieve stress and promote wellness in the workplace, consider corporate massage treatment. A corporate massage program can provide many benefits for both employers and employees.
So what are the benefits of corporate massage therapy, you may ask.
First and foremost, massage is a great way to reduce stress. Studies have shown that massage can help to decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol, while also increasing levels of serotonin, the "feel-good" hormone. Not only does massage help to reduce stress in the moment, but it can also have lasting effects on our mood and stress levels. For instance, an immediate benefit of a deep tissue massage is that it relaxes and eases tension while simultaneously invigorating the body. You will definitely notice how much more relaxed people are after their massage, whilst still being productive.
Excessive computer usage may also bring about bodily pain. It's due to spending a lot of time in one posture. Often, lousy body posture at the office is due to unhealthy working habits. These can be because of poor workplace ergonomics, seating positions, working in one position for a long time, etc. The neck, lower back, shoulders, and arms are the most affected areas. This might lead to serious problems if left untreated.
A therapeutic massage may assist with this discomfort. A proper rub down can mend these negatives and make for better posture by relaxing tension in the body which allows for relaxed joints and muscles promoting freedom from pressure points and natural posture. Each of these pain spots has its own origin and can be treated. By applying the appropriate massage technique to each of these problems, skilled massage therapists can provide relief.
Employee mental health is also important to overall health. When it comes to employee mental well-being, massage has a lot to offer. As an employee spends the whole day at work due to job demands, one can become mentally exhausted. When stress rises, negative thoughts accumulate, and the mind becomes clogged. This makes it difficult to concentrate, that's why many businesses have introduced programs that allow employees to receive fast massages during the day.
Some of the advantages of corporate massage therapy in this area include reduced anxiety as a result of the relaxing process's calming effect, increased happiness as a consequence of the revitalized sensation one gets after the treatment, and enhanced attention and awareness.
Massage can improve circulation and promote better sleep. A study discovered that workers who had massages on a regular basis not only slept better but also woke feeling more energetic and productive. Productivity is no longer measured by how much work gets done in a specific amount of time, but about efficiency and how tasks are completed. There are several methods to boost productivity, however research shows that a calm, active and valued staff outperforms the competition in the long run.
If you want a productive workforce, happiness should be encouraged rather than shamed. Too often in the corporate world, it seems as though taking even a small break is tantamount to laziness. This set-up not only breeds unhappiness, but can result in lessened productivity overall. Although some companies may feel apprehensive about trying corporate massage, they soon realize that it provides many benefits for their employees. Not only are employees absent less often, but they also stay with the company for longer periods of time. Additionally, people will want to work for your business because of the engaged workforce and strong culture of wellness. With these factors in place, you will have talented individuals knocking at your door wanting to be a part of your company. Also, it can help cut back on healthcare expenses. When employees are stressed, they tend to get sick more often. This costs the company money in terms of doctor visits, missed work days, and lower productivity. Corporate massage treatments promote a healthier workforce.
In a nutshell, massage therapy is an excellent and cost-effective investment for businesses that want their employees to be happy, productive members of the company. It is a preventative measure that can relieve stress before it turns into something more serious.
If you're interested in implementing corporate massage therapy into your workplace, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, a corporate massage therapy session is a short period of relaxation, typically 10-15 minutes, that an individual can have at their workplace. It doesn't necessitate taking off any clothes and focuses on particular body regions like the back, neck, shoulders, arms, etc. By lessening the tension in muscles and nerves, therapy sessions help alleviate pain caused by spasms and contractions. This helps the body run more smoothly and efficiently. And since massage also has the ability to lower blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, insomnia, tiredness, and other ailments, it is critical to address these gaps in order to have a healthy workforce.
Next, massage therapy should be seen as a perk or an additional benefit for employees, rather than a necessity. This means that it's important to offer massage treatments during work hours and to make them easily accessible for employees. Moreover, you'll need to decide how often you want to offer massage treatments and what times of day will be best for your employees. Massage treatments can be done on a regular basis or as needed, depending on your company's needs. Some businesses choose to offer massage therapy once a week, while others may opt for monthly treatments. It's important to find a schedule that works best for your employees and your business.
You'll also need to find a location for the massage treatments that is convenient for both your employees and your budget. Once you've taken these factors into consideration, you can start looking for qualified massage therapists in your area. Additionally, you'll want to ensure that your massage therapists are properly trained and certified.
If you're looking for a way to reduce stress in the workplace and improve employee morale, corporate massage therapy may be the perfect solution.
Thanks for reading! I hope this has helped you learn more about corporate massage therapy and how it can benefit your business. Still have questions? Send us a message and we'd be happy to chat!
