Pain

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on low-back pain, the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work. Massage Therapy & Low-Back Pain In a study published in the February 2014 edition of Scientific World Journal, researchers investigated whether chronic low-back pain therapy with massage therapy alone was as effective as combining it with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. The study was conducted on 59 individuals divided into two groups, all of whom suffered from low-back pain and were diagnosed with degenerative changes of the spine, other intervertebral disc diseases or spine pain. In both patient groups, the pain measured was significantly reduced and the [...]

For people with fibromyalgia, massage therapy may help soothe symptoms to some degree. Marked by chronic pain and fatigue, fibromyalgia typically causes tenderness throughout the body (especially in the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, and legs) and triggers sleep troubles, headaches, memory problems, and irritable bowel syndrome. Although massage therapy isn't proven to provide long-term relief of fibromyalgia symptoms, early research shows that receiving massages may help fight pain and enhance well-being in fibromyalgia patients. Fibromyalgia Soothe Massage Fibromyalgia Pain Relief Back Pain Support Treatment of Sciatica Benefits of Massage for Fibromyalgia Patients While massage has yet to be extensively tested for its effects on fibromyalgia, the existing studies show "modest support" for its use in treating the condition, according [...]