{"id":11883,"date":"2012-02-22T09:02:32","date_gmt":"2012-02-22T14:02:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fitzness.com\/blog\/?p=11883"},"modified":"2014-10-29T10:13:18","modified_gmt":"2014-10-29T15:13:18","slug":"6-ways-touch-can-change-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fitzness.com\/blog\/6-ways-touch-can-change-your-life\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Ways Touch can Change Your Life"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo Credit: Eric Cuthbert on Flickr.com<\/p><\/div>\n

We all do it, whether it be a handshake, pat on the back, hug, high-five, or foot massage, we are a touchy species. Many times we use touch to help convey an emotion, but research suggests that it can do even more. When we touch each other there are chemical reactions too, and the effects are can be surprising.<\/p>\n

1. Physical Therapy<\/strong> Therapeutic recovery is a well-known benefit of touch. Hundreds of thousands of people see massage therapists for a variety of issues such as joint and muscle pain<\/a>, sports injuries, and physical\/mental trauma. One study shows that therapeutic touch actually reduces the behavioral symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s in as little as 15 minutes a day!<\/p>\n

2. Decreased Stress<\/strong> After a back massage most of us feel great, relaxed, and less stressed. In a 2010 study, by Dr. Mark Rapaport, participants who got a medium intensity Swedish massage, had less stress hormones in their blood after the massage.<\/p>\n

3. Boosted Immune System<\/strong> In that same study, participants also had an increased number of white blood cells<\/a>, which fight off sickness in the body.<\/p>\n

4. Lower Blood Pressure<\/strong> A North Carolina study reported that after spending 10 minutes in close contact with their partner, women had lowered blood pressure.<\/p>\n

5. Better Relationships<\/strong> Many studies have suggested that the more touching involved in a relationship, the better off the relationship was.<\/p>\n