Using Massage for Pain Management
People with chronic pain often turn to massage therapy to help naturally improve their quality of life.
Massage releases serotonin, which is the body’s natural production of anti-pain chemicals. Another aggravating factor in pain syndromes can be a lack of deep, restorative sleep. Massage is very effective at increasing deep sleep. With more deep sleep, you have less pain.
Fibromyalgia and arthritis are two chronic pain syndromes that can be positively impacted by massage therapy.
In a study of massage therapy for knee osteoarthritis, a group receiving massage therapy for the pain showed significant improvement in pain, stiffness and physical function. They increased their range of motion and reduced the time it took them to walk 50 feet.
In another study, conducted by the Touch Research Institute and funded by Massage Envy, people with arthritis in their wrist and hand reported less pain and greater grip strength after massage therapy. They also had lower anxiety and depressed mood scores.
For people looking to naturally manage their chronic pain, massage therapy can improve quality of life by impacting mood as well as manage the pain and other benefits. When you live with chronic pain, having a toolbox of strategies you turn to for pain relief is important.
Massage can be a powerful tool for relaxing both mind and body.
Benefits of Massage for Managing Chronic Pain
▪ Increases serotonin, which reduces pain naturally
▪ Naturally increases deep sleep
▪ Increases range of motion
▪ Lowers anxiety and improves mood
More and more people are looking for effective, natural solutions to supplement their pain management. From deep tissue massage to sports massage to Trigger Point Therapy
The effectiveness of massage lies in a simple and direct strategy: working from the external, outer mechanisms of pain to the primary, root cause. Massage therapists utilize a holistic approach, focusing on the entire body system and its relationship to soft tissue. Their care isn’t focused only on the site of pain.
Another benefit of massage therapy is how it helps you become more aware of your body and better familiarize you with the pain you experience. As an experienced massage therapist I not only help relieve muscle and other soft tissue pain, but I can also impact on you by virtue of human touch and care.
This care is especially pronounced for women facing mastectomies and dealing with the outcomes of that surgery – we have female Massage Therapists that can comfortably assist if this is you. Massage will help you feel comfortable once again in your body. This comfort level improves confidence and allows you to better deal with pain, while benefiting from various other forms of massage that focus on lymph drainage and muscle pain, as well as other pain management therapies.
Although more research is needed to confirm the best uses of massage, the potential for a positive impact on both acute, and especially chronic pain is clear.
As it stands, enough research exists to encourage pain management specialists and massage therapists to forge professional relationships. These pain management relationships should exist in the hospital, in clinics, in private practice offices and in home care.
Gold Coast Physio & Sports Health has a Team of very experienced Massage Therapists at both clinics.
If you would like an appointment with any one of our experienced and caring Therapists, please phone the clinic on 07 5500 6470, or Book Online
