Put Insomnia to Rest with a Massage

After a long day of work, there’s nothing better than slipping into some nice comfy pajamas, climbing into bed and then tossing, turning and staring at the ceiling for 2 hours. Hmm. We take it back. Sleep is the body’s way of rejuvenating at the end of each day. Unfortunately for 1 in 3 people, insomnia has different ideas. Whether you’re replaying today, worrying about tomorrow, or rethinking yesterday as your mind wanders, your REM time dwindles. Sleeping pills may help temporarily but will reduce in effectiveness after a few short weeks. For those suffering from insomnia, using a massager can help your mind and body be at ease before you catch some Z’s. Here’s how a massage can help.

Increase Relaxation

For the 50-70 million adults suffering from sleep disorders, turning off a racing mind is half the battle. Massages cause the body to release serotonin, a calming neurotransmitter that is also responsible for stimulating the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone. Serotonin and melatonin are like shift workers, they perform opposite jobs but they work together to keep the sleep/wake cycle regulated. The release of serotonin can help regulate anxiety, increase mood and even heal the body. Wahl crafts a variety of massagers that can help your tight muscles and racing mind relax. After using a massager for just 3-minutes, you can add 35 relaxing minutes of sleep to your typical toss-and-turn time.

Decrease Pain

It’s hard to get comfortable when you’re in pain. It’s hard to get to sleep when you’re not comfortable. Four out of 5 adults will experience some degree of back pain in their lifetime. For those with lower back pain, a 30-minute massage twice a week reportedly decreased pain and allowed for more time asleep. Massages can cause the body to spend more time in the deep stages of sleep (3 and 4) when the limb muscles are temporarily paralyzed. People who suffer from chronic pain are often unable to sleep well. When one doesn’t sleep well, they are more receptive to the pain and often request further pain medications. Massages are a great way to treat mild to moderate pain and increase the amount of time one spends fast asleep, not counting sheep.

Sleep Debt

Looking for a scientific reason to sleep in? Well, you just found it. For the chronically busy or sleepless, you may find yourself developing “sleep debt”. Sleep debt occurs when a person is falling short on their recommended eight hours each night. Like a mortgage or a car payment, sleep debt can be repaid, but not overnight. Try to add an hour of sleep each night. The more tired you get, the less tired you’ll feel, meaning a greater challenge when it’s time to close your eyes. Use a massager to relax before bed and try getting 9-10 hours each night until you feel rejuvenated and caught up.

Long-term lack of sleep can lead to other problems like low performance, slowed reactions, obesity, substance abuse, an increased risk of disease, and even early mortality.

Wahl offers a wide variety of massagers that can help reduce pain and stress, leading to a better night’s sleep. Shop Wahl massager products.