Massage for Older Adults

January 29, 2026 admin

Circulation, stiffness and quality of life

Article by Jeppe Tengbjerg (Founder of the International massage Association)

As people grow older, many experience physical changes that gradually affect comfort, mobility and daily well-being. Stiffness, reduced circulation and general tension often become part of everyday life — and are frequently accepted as “just part of aging.”

Massage therapy offers a gentle, respectful and effective way to support older adults and improve overall quality of life.

What changes in the body with age?

Aging brings natural physiological changes:

Muscles become shorter and tighter
Joints move less freely
Circulation slows
Recovery takes longer

At the same time, many older adults become less physically active — often not by choice, but because the body feels heavy, stiff or uncomfortable.

Common experiences include:

Morning stiffness
Muscle and joint discomfort
Cold hands and feet
Restlessness and poor sleep

How massage can support older adults

Massage for older adults is not about deep pressure or intensity. It is about appropriate, adapted and mindful touch.

1. Supporting circulation

Gentle massage techniques can stimulate blood and lymph flow, helping the body feel warmer, lighter and more comfortable.

2. Reducing stiffness and improving mobility

By working with muscles and connective tissue, massage can help:

Increase ease of movement
Reduce muscle tension
Improve functional mobility in daily activities

3. Calming the nervous system

Calm, predictable touch supports nervous system regulation. Many older adults report feeling:

More relaxed
More at ease in their body
Better sleep quality

Massage as care — not only treatment

For many older adults, massage is not just a physical intervention. It is also:

Being seen and acknowledged
Experiencing safe, respectful human touch
Feeling valued and cared for

The relational aspect of massage is often as important as the physical effects.

What massage cannot do

It is important to set realistic expectations.

Massage:

Does not cure age-related diseases
Does not replace medical treatment
Cannot reverse degenerative conditions

However, massage can relieve discomfort, support function and improve daily quality of life — which, for many older adults, is deeply meaningful.

When older adults do not seek massage themselves

Many older adults do not actively seek massage therapy. Common reasons include:

“It’s not for me”
Uncertainty about what massage involves
Fear of pain or discomfort
Lack of information

This is where family members, caregivers and friends play an important role.

Introducing massage as:

A thoughtful gift
A supportive experience
A gentle wellness option

can be the first step toward a positive experience.

A message to families and caregivers

If you have parents, grandparents or older loved ones who live with stiffness, tension or reduced mobility, massage therapy may be worth considering.

A professional massage therapist will:

Take health conditions into account
Adapt techniques and pressure
Create a safe and comfortable environment

Often, one positive experience is enough to change perceptions.

A message from the International Massage Association

The International Massage Association encourages massage therapists worldwide to share this article with:

Older clients and their families
Caregivers and support organizations
Clinics, senior centers and wellness programs

By sharing accurate and compassionate information, we help:

Normalize massage therapy for older adults
Increase access to supportive care
Elevate the role of massage in healthy aging

Final thoughts

Massage for older adults is not about performance or results — it is about comfort, dignity and quality of life.

Small improvements in movement, relaxation and well-being can make a meaningful difference in everyday life. And often, it starts when someone in the family takes the initiative.

This article is written for massage therapists, older adults, families and organizations worldwide and may be freely shared.

Did you like the article? Or did you like taking part of the World Championship in Massage or one of our classes, then please feel free to give us a nice review on Google.

Marketa Vlckova

11:50 10 Feb 26

Miki Kruger (Massage Miki)

17:42 01 Feb 26

Theresa Hensley

02:09 01 Feb 26

Harpa Finnsdottir

08:54 31 Jan 26

Awesome and beautyful inviroment no doubt in my mind.

Miranda Roe

05:17 31 Jan 26

If you love being a massage therapist, you NEED to make it to one of the IMA championships. They are so educational and a great place to meet therapists from around the world with the same mindset.

Gerarda Cirulli Koley

18:25 30 Jan 26

Best experience ever 💪🏻

tibor

16:09 30 Jan 26

Congratulations IMA Team 🙏❣️🏆🥇

Andre Jones

02:10 28 Jan 26

I have had a great experience from USA interacting with the IMA team. I am a Licensed Massage Therapist from USA and have been following IMA for some time. I am inspired by Massage Therapist from around the world as they share their unique styles and modalities. I hope to participate in Denmark someday soon.

Pamela Golden

22:49 27 Jan 26

Tibor Csaba 'Dr.Kovács

11:10 27 Jan 26

Pamela Locatelli

16:42 04 Jan 26

rowena valentina hankins

13:24 01 Dec 25

Been learning a lot from this page. As a massage therapist. Im expressing my heartfelt thanks

Camilla Goldstrand Lauridsen

07:54 26 Nov 25

Francia Montanio

21:25 07 Nov 25

KABIR AITSEGAME

04:40 04 Nov 25

Marie Stewart

19:11 25 Jul 25

Thank you jeppe and the team you are so awesome miss physically being with you all
Seeing you daily online videos sounds and listening tocthe viking mantra places me in the space of unity immediately
Thank you to the love energy

Gvantsa Khoperia

04:23 22 May 25

My name is gvantsa khoperia
I world champion
IMA Ambasador
IMA Teacher
IMA Gudge
IMA the best organization world 🌎
IMA my female.

My name is gvantsa khoperia
I world champion
IMA Ambasador
IMA Teacher
IMA Gudge
I attended the basic teacher training course as well as the jury training course, which was one of the most interesting courses, I used this knowledge successfully with my students. Thank you IMA for giving me this opportunity.
IMA the best organization world 🌎

Surya Bahdur Karki

23:18 16 May 25

I am working on this Massage(SPA) therapy , Yoga and Naturopathic field since 1984 in Nepal. It is very useful service for human being globally. we can treated many disease by these systems.

الشاعر مدحت حمادى

05:38 01 May 25

ممتازة

Excellent

Karine Boivin

22:37 29 Apr 25

khatereh zandiyeh

16:20 30 Mar 25

Pia Lyng-Hansen

04:14 12 Mar 25

cool, fun and a great opportunity to learn. Thank you.

Anna Baroni

21:50 08 Mar 25

Dear therapist friends,
Creating a video for a championship increases your visibility in the sector, you are known by the world of massage, it increases your professional growth and every time I made a video by participating in this competition I donated all my experience, and I tried to convey my passion, my art, my techniques.
It takes commitment, love and innovation to make a video and capture the public's attention.
I think the most important ingredient is to convey an important message, furthermore I had a lot of fun every time I chose to present a new video and I am sure that participating with one of our videos will remain in the history of massage, because Ima represents the
the only large and true association that represents the union of all therapists in the world to disseminate the art of massage. Every year. I have presented several of my videos with my different massage techniques and also this year 24 without any expectations and to my great amazement
On June 24 in Copenhagen I won like
Best video in the teachers category.
Go see it on you tube Ima.
Anna Baroni
The lady of emotions, as the great Constantine Barbu christened me
The mother of massage for many Masters and judges but there is a reason why
I was the first in the world of massage in 1995 to have two great intuitions:
👑The first combines 7 techniques into one
My. Physiomassage
👑The second is to bring the stretching technique to the table.
My. Postural stretching
Thanks @jeppeTiengberg
Anna Baroni master ♥️

Cari Amici terapisti,
Creare un video per un campionato aumenta la tua visibilità nel settore, vieni conosciuto dal mondo del massaggio, aumenta la tua crescita professionale e ogni volta che io ho realizzato un video partecipando a questo concorso ho donato tutta la mia esperienza, e ho cercato di trasmettere la mia passione la mia arte le mie tecniche,.
Occorre impegno e amore e innovazione per realizzare un video e colpire l attenzione del pubblico.
Penso che l ingrediente più importante sia trasmettere un messaggio importante, inoltre mi sono divertita tanto ogni volta che ho scelto di presentare un nuovo video e sono sicura che partecipare con un nostro video questo rimarrà nella storia del massaggio, perché Ima rappresenta l
l 'unica grande e vera associazione che rappresenta l unione di tutti i terapisti del mondo per divulgare l arte del massaggio. Ogni anno. Ho Presentato diversi miei video con le mie diverse tecniche di massaggio e anche questo anno 24 senza alcuna aspettativa e con grande mio stupore
A giugno 24 a Copenaghen ho vinto come
Miglior video nella categoria insegnanti.
Andandate a vederlo su you tube Ima.
Anna Baroni
La signora delle emozioni così il grande Constantine Barbu mi ha battezzata
La mamma del massaggio per molti Masters e giudici ma c è un perche
Sono stata la prima nel mondo del massaggio nel 1995 ad avere due grandi intuizioni :
👑La prima unire 7 tecniche in una sola
Il mio. Fisiomassaggio
👑La seconda portare tt la tecnica del thsi stretching sul lettino.
Il mio. Postural stretching
Grazie @jeppeTiengberg
Anna Baroni master ♥️

Ruby Tolentino Sanches

16:48 22 Feb 25

I had the honor of participating in the 7th Massage Competition held in Copenhagen, Denmark, last June about 250 over participants from 50 over countries.
During this event, I encountered numerous massage therapists who profoundly inspired me till now, we made connectionson social media, learning new techniques from them as well.
The competition venue was expansive and expertly designed to accommodate all categories of massage.

Mr. Jeppe, my greatest idol, was exceptionally engaged throughout the event. His energy seemed boundless, akin to a rechargeable battery, as he was present everywhere, capturing videos and photographs of all participants and conducting interviews with us.

Wishing all my fellow "muscle kneaders" the best of luck; may you enjoy this truly remarkable experience in your lives!

I extend my gratitude to IMA for providing this extraordinary opportunity to showcase our talents to the world.

PS
Let me know if you need some tips on accommodation, walking distance to the venue 😉

Mabuhay! 🇵🇭

Jurij Juriak

13:46 31 Jan 25

Jesus Gomez

23:07 12 Jan 25

PRASANNA GAMAGE

13:14 07 Jan 25

Thanking for IMA , Share the valuable informations.

Cornelia N

18:11 06 Jan 25

Superb quality information, a true ambassador for massage therapy!

Vlad-Florin Panait

07:13 17 Dec 24

I had an amazing weekend learning about advanced techniques of holistic massage. It was a great experience and I want to thank Kinga and Jeppe for these lessons.

Alligator Tab

10:27 16 Dec 24

Excellent experience. I was impressed after the course.

Kinga Jenei

14:26 15 Dec 24

Bridgette Mensah

05:22 02 Dec 24

I am a massage therapist and I appreciate the article in the sence that reading through refreshes my mind and has also helped me to know I'm using the right techniques in my practice and my clients are always amazed after I treat them.

Thank you! So much for sharing it has been enlighten!

Natalija Ilic

13:05 29 Nov 24

Fantastisk konkurrence!!!

Nataly Werthaim

23:11 21 Nov 24

"I took an amazing massage course from IMA, which greatly enhanced my knowledge. It was very well explained and presented with high professionalism. Thank you so much, Jeppe & Kinga ❤️"

May Au

09:57 20 Oct 24

It is a great honor to receive the NMC Overall Winner Award 2024, and I am truly grateful to have Jeppe present it to me. His experience and skills are admired globally, and he is not only highly knowledgeable but also generous and supportive. I feel fortunate to learn from him and I hope we can all continue working together in the massage field to achieve great things. Thank you so much, Jeppe!

Sami Stressade

10:45 20 Sep 24

The International Massage World Championships (IMA) in Copenhagen was an extraordinary experience. It provided a unique platform to compete with the best massage therapists in the world and learn advanced techniques at the highest level.
The professional exchange, the valuable feedback from the jury and the inspiring atmosphere have significantly expanded my skills. An absolute recommendation for anyone who wants to perfect their art and make international connections.

A special thank you goes to Jeppe Tengbjerg, founder and CEO of the International Massage Association and organizer of the World Championships in Massage. Without his vision and commitment, this outstanding event would not have been possible.

Amanda J M.

03:52 18 Sep 24

Thank you very much for the lessons that IMA has shared with the public... this knowledge will forever be useful for me to grow even more.. hugs and kisses 💆‍♂️🌎🕊🙏😇

semenuk-t Tanya

14:45 25 Aug 24

Very interesting, informative. A colossal experience. Exchange of skills and techniques. Friendly atmosphere....❤️❤️❤️It is worth taking part in order to grow and become better.

Massage World Magazine International

18:39 24 May 24

I have attended the IMA World massage Champs since 2017, it’s a must in the June calendar each year. Go visit or compete!! Copenhagen is a great City break aswell.

Tereze Belkova

19:06 24 Apr 24

An excellent school where you can not only learn different massage techniques, but also improve your skills. A place that brings together massage professionals from all over the world by organising the World Massage Championships in Denmark.

Michael Pedersen

21:24 05 Mar 24

Huge praise for holding dm in massage 2024.
Warm atmosphere, good energy and super well organised.

A school that is passionate about giving students the best possible education.

Can only warmly recommend the school.

Kæmpe stor ros for at afholde dm i massage 2024.
Varm atmosfære, god energi og super godt tilrettelagt.

En skole der brænder for at give eleverne, den bedst mulige uddannelse.

Kan kun på det varmeste anbefale skolen.

Carsten Anderslund

20:12 05 Mar 24

Carl Newbury

11:28 29 Feb 24

I have been attending Jeppe's events in Copenhagen since 2017. The World Championship in Massage is the highlight of my year networking with massage therapists from all over the World. Well Done Jeppe

Victoria Bilousova

12:54 07 Feb 24

Thank you so much for an amazing World Massage Championship organized in a high level! A lot of new friends and inspiration I found there😇

Christina Blei-Amatdoelrasit

07:51 07 Feb 24

It was with great pleasure to teach at your school in Denmark, I experienced a good atmosfeer, an interesting class and you as host/teacher mr. Jeppe Tengbjerg.
Also thank you for the colaboration to teach at my school in Lelystad the Netherlands last year, it is of great interest to learn from each other and I welcome you again, this year in september 2024.
SoeReiMas Courses & Coaching
Lelystad the Netherlands

Chutima Hälg

00:47 07 Feb 24

I recently had the pleasure of attending a massage seminar jointly organized by IMA Academy and Chiida Academy, and I must say it was a truly enriching experience. The seminar, led by a professional instructor, was a perfect blend of theory and practice, offering valuable insights into the art of massage therapy. The theoretical aspects covered were comprehensive and informative, providing a solid foundation of knowledge for all participants. From anatomy and physiology to various massage techniques and their applications, every aspect was explained with clarity and depth. It was evident that the instructor was not only knowledgeable but also passionate about imparting their expertise to the students. What truly stood out about this seminar was the emphasis on hands-on practice. Participants were given ample opportunities to apply the theoretical concepts they had learned in a supportive and nurturing environment. The instructor's guidance and feedback were invaluable in honing our skills and techniques. Moreover, I was impressed by the caring attitude and thoughtfulness shown towards the students throughout the seminar. From providing necessary materials to addressing individual queries and concerns, the organizers ensured that everyone felt valued and supported. I would like to extend my gratitude to Mr. Jeppe Tengbjerg for his exceptional leadership in making this seminar a resounding success. His expertise, patience, and genuine dedication to the art of massage therapy were truly inspiring.In conclusion, the collaborative effort between IMA Academy and Chiida Academy in presenting this massage seminar was commendable. It was a rewarding experience that left me feeling empowered and equipped with valuable knowledge and skills. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of massage therapy or embark on a career in this field.

Corpore Vital

16:13 06 Feb 24

Professionalism and education at the highest level. The students are very attentive and involved in the way the information is conveyed and because there is a lot of practice, the course becomes even more exciting. Congratulations for the interactive way in which you transmit the information.

Constantin Roman

02:30 07 Jan 24

Jeg mødte Jeppe Tengbjerg for første gang ved det første World Massage Championship i 2017. Siden da har vi krydset veje mange gange, i forskellige samarbejder relateret til massageverdenen: internationale konkurrencer, danske konkurrencer, kurser, workshops, seminarer, masterclasses mv. . Her var Jeppe skaberen, arrangøren eller i det mindste var han en væsentlig faktor i dannelsen af disse værdifulde platforme for uddannelse, inspiration og promovering, for alle dem, der er involveret i massageverdenen, både som massageudbydere og som massageforbrugere.
Jeppe har ydet et kæmpe bidrag til at fremme massageværdier i Danmark og verden. Der kunne siges meget om dette bidrag og om hans egenskaber som professionel og som person. Måske allervigtigst er, at Jeppe Tengbjerg er en inspiration og et forbillede. Han samler flittigt viden og erfaringer, hvorfra han skaber en kilde til ny viden og erfaring til andre og giver den videre.
I dag er der allerede mange mennesker i verden, som har nydt godt af det kolossale arbejde, Jeppe konstant udfører. Jeppe er for mig et eksempel på flid, vedholdenhed og engagement.
Jeg synes, at Jeppe Tengbjerg er et navn, der allerede er trådt ind i massagens historie.
Vil du vide mere om Jeppes arbejde, så følg ham tæt på alle digitale kanaler, hvor han har publiceret talrige artikler og relevante materialer.
Hvis du er en massageterapeut interesseret i at blive endnu bedre, så deltag i konkurrencer eller uddannelser promoveret af Jeppe Tengbjerg.
Drømmer du om at blive massør, så kontakt Jeppe Tengbjerg.

Camilla Ring

11:57 03 Nov 23

Har taget flere både uddannelser og kurser hos Jeppe og har kun godt at sige om det. Jeg har været rigtig tilfreds og bruger hver dag, al min tillærte viden i min klinik ✨

Anne Breinberg

10:06 22 Sep 23

God skole med et bredt spektrum af sundhedsuddannelser - både enkeltstående og overbyggende.
Jeg har tidligere taget massøruddannelsen og hvad dertil hører og er pt. i gang med zoneterapiuddannelsen.

Helene Baumann

04:35 09 Mar 23

Jeg har taget både grunduddannelsen, skadesterapeut, thai yoga massage samt sundhedsfaglig grunduddannelse hos tengbjerg massørskole og jeg er så tilfreds. Man lærer utrolig meget på kurserne og underviserne er så kompetente! Hvis man overvejer at blive massør, kan jeg på det kraftigste anbefale at man smutter til Næstved! :-)

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