Chronic pain is a debilitating condition that affects millions of people in the United States. While there are several traditional medical approaches to managing chronic pain, more and more people are turning to alternative therapies such as massage therapy. In this blog post, we’ll explore how massage therapy can be a beneficial complementary treatment for managing chronic pain.
A review in 2014 analyzed nine randomized controlled trials involving 404 participants with chronic pain. The study found that massage therapy was effective in reducing pain intensity and improving physical function in patients with chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia, chronic low back pain, and chronic neck pain. The authors suggested that massage therapy could be used as a complementary therapy to traditional medical treatments for managing chronic pain.
Another study in 2006 involved 68 adults with knee osteoarthritis who received either Swedish massage or a control. The study found that the group receiving Swedish massage had significant improvements in pain, stiffness, and physical function compared to the control group. The authors concluded that massage therapy could be a useful treatment option for patients with pain from osteoarthritis of the knee.
Massage therapy is a non-invasive, drug-free therapy that has been shown to have several benefits for managing chronic pain, in the following ways:
- Analgesic Effect: Massage therapy can help to reduce pain intensity and frequency by releasing endorphins, which are natural painkillers.
- Improved circulation: Massage therapy can increase blood flow to the affected area, which can help to reduce inflammation and promote healing.
- Relaxation: Massage therapy can help to reduce stress and tension in the body, which can contribute to chronic pain.
- Improved range of motion: Massage therapy can help to loosen tight muscles and joints, improving flexibility and range of motion.
In conclusion, massage therapy can be an effective complementary treatment for managing chronic pain. Studies coming out every day provide evidence that massage therapy can help to reduce pain intensity and improve physical function in patients with chronic pain conditions. Massage therapy is safe and non-invasive. If you are struggling with chronic pain, you may want to consider incorporating massage therapy into your pain management plan. Be sure to consult with a licensed massage therapist to determine the best approach for your specific needs, and your primary care physician if you have major medical concerns or conditions.
Li YH, Wang FY, Feng CQ, Yang XF, Sun YH. Massage therapy for fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PLoS One. 2014 Feb 20;9(2):e89304. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089304. PMID: 24586677; PMCID: PMC3930706.
Perlman AI, Ali A, Njike VY, Hom D, Davidi A, Gould-Fogerite S, Milak C, Katz DL. Massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized dose-finding trial. PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e30248. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030248. Epub 2012 Feb 8. PMID: 22347369; PMCID: PMC3275589.
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