Massage and Chronic Pain Relief

Those of us who are in chronic pain know how valuable relief can feel. Pain can debilitate and isolate you in every area of your life. Those who experience chronic pain cannot see their pain, but it is a real part of their everyday existence.

According to the American Pain Association, 86 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. Physicians hear the complaint of pain more often than any other symptom from patients who come to their offices. Physicians face the fact that they cannot themselves measure their patients' pain nor can they observe it as they do other symptoms. They turn to a variety of treatment plans to help their patients cope with chronic pain. Massage therapy is increasingly being used as part of those plans.

In the 1800's, physicians actually practiced massage on their patients themselves; today they refer their patients to massage therapists. These licensed massage therapists are trained in the human anatomy, physiology and pathology. They spend hours physically practicing the art of massage, learning how to manipulate muscles and the soft tissues of the body.

For over two decades, the Touch Research Institute of University of Miami School of Medicine has been conducting studies that look at whether or not there are any beneficial effects of massage therapy. Their studies have covered conditions as diverse as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, labor pain, fibromyalgia and back pain.

The study results have found that massage therapy offers pain relief on a variety of levels including decreased intensity of pain felt, less morning stiffness, a decrease in the degree of anxiety felt because of pain, and even the experience of better sleep patterns due to better pain management. Some studies also concluded that better mobility could be demonstrated after massage therapy. The research done through these studies shows that pain suffers can find a measure of relief when adding massages to other pain treatment. You can find more information about the work that the Touch Research Institute conducts by visiting their website at http://www6.miami.edu/touch-research/

Massage therapy has been shown to boost the immune system by stimulating endorphins, which are your body’s natural pain relievers. Physiological pain conditions are not the only "pain" that can be relieved by massage therapists. The pain of depression, anxiety and tension symptoms can also be relieved by massage.

Most diseases today can be associated with stress, so reducing stress by massage techniques can help most diseases simply by reducing tension in muscles and relaxing the massage clients.

Massage has been a long time component of pain relief. Over 3,000 years ago ancient Chinese and Indian folk medicine included massage. Greek and Roman physicians first brought massage techniques to the western societies.

Today, licensed massage therapists begin their treatments with gathering a complete medical history and an examination of where the pain is located on your body. The therapist will know what techniques are most appropriate to use to loosen specific connective tissues, reduce the sensations of pain and to help improve the structural alignment of the body.