“In massage therapy, a massage therapist rubs & kneads the soft tissues of our body. The soft tissues include muscle, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments & skin. The massage therapist varies the amount of pressure & movement. Massage is part of integrative medicine, & is now viewed as an important tool in promoting mental & physical health.” [1,2]. – It is frequently recommended by Pain Specialists as part of a patient’s Personalised Treatment Plan.
So What Does the Research Say?
Numerous studies which have investigated the benefits of massage, have shown that this method of therapeutics can:
• Help ameliorate stress
• Decrease pain
• Reduce muscle tightness
• Boost relaxation
• Rev up the immune system [1]
The Low Down
The word ‘massage,’ is an umbrella term for having our skin, muscles, ligaments and tendons, manipulated, rubbed, stroked and pressed. Of note, massage therapy is “increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations” [2], and this is why it is often suggested by Pain Doctors. -This is hardly surprising considering that it can assist with:
• Nerve pain
• Soft tissue injuries and strains
• Sports injuries
• Scar tissue
• Fibromyalgia
• Postoperative care
• Temporomandibular (TMJ) disorders, and much more [2]
So What Are the Physical Benefits of Massage?
For the majority of patients being treated by a Pain Consultant, massage therapy serves as an important element of a specific personalised medical treatment protocol. – A Holistic Treatment Plan which empowers them to get back to their usual daily activities, including work and family commitments, as well as social fun [2].
There are countless physical and mental benefits of massage. These incorporate:
• Improved circulation (which can help boost recovery)
• Reduced muscle stiffness (making everyday living far better)
• Decreased inflammation in the joints (which results in less pain and swelling)
• Better sleep quality (which allows the body to regenerate and repair overnight)
• Greater flexibility
• Less pain
• Reduced soreness
• A stronger immune response
• Decreased stress levels (which helps the body repair itself)
• Improved mood
• A higher level of relaxation
• Less anxiety
• Greater energy
• More positivity and a more optimistic outlook
• A closer mind-body connection
• A robust feeling of physical and mental well-being [2].
References
[1]. Mayo Clinic (2023). “Massage Therapy.”
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/massage-therapy/about/pac-20384595
[2]. Mayo Clinic (2022). “Benefits of massage therapy.”
