When you have a parent who is elderly and perhaps not in the best of health, you likely want to do all that you can to improve his or her quality of life. This can involve regular visits to the family doctor and even to specialists, but it's worthwhile to also think about other forms of care. One such idea to consider is massage therapy — something that you may enjoy yourself. While massage therapy can offer value for people of all ages, there are especially some reasons that this form of treatment can make a difference in the life of your parent. Here are some reasons to book a session at a center like Massage Bliss.

Relief From Fibromyalgia Pain

Although younger people can develop fibromyalgia, this is a health condition that affects the lives of many senior citizens. It has a number of troublesome symptoms, not the least of which is overall pain and stiffness. Seniors who suffer from fibromyalgia can also struggle to sleep soundly because of their pain, and may have trouble getting any degree of physical exercise because their discomfort keeps them at home. While massage therapy doesn't cure this condition, it can be a valuable treatment method for your elderly parent to try.

Alleviation Of Depression

Approximately seven million senior citizens deal with the symptoms of depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a child of a depressed senior, it can be highly upsetting to see your parent going through a high degree of emotional turmoil. Depression among seniors can follow the death of a spouse, changes in lifestyle, or even be a side effect of certain medications. Massage therapy can help those with depression — because it's a relaxing form of therapy, it can help to relieve anxiety that the client has been experiencing.

Help With Joint Pain

Whether your elderly parent has recently had a joint replaced or is awaiting this type of surgery, he or she may suffer from considerable joint pain. While the massage therapist won't specifically work on the joints, he or she will concentrate on the muscles and tissues around them, which can also be inflamed and extremely sore. In the case of a knee problem, for example, the therapist will treat the quadriceps muscle above the knee, as well as the tissue around the joint to help it feel better. Massage therapy won't usually allow a patient to put off getting surgery, but it can be valuable for improving the patient's pain levels in the meantime.