Role of Massage in Providing Pain Relief

Everyone counts on a little massage and touch therapy to provide natural pain relief from different conditions. Many people swear on the benefits they reap from a good massage, including natural pain relief from many conditions.

The world of medicine recognizes the important role of touch therapy and massage, so different studies have been done to try to prove the relationship between pain relief and massage therapy. It is important for you to know which conditions can benefit from massage – and which may not.

 

What is massage therapy?

Massage therapy is defined as the manipulation of soft tissues done by skilled therapists, the aim of which is to provide therapeutic relief.

Massage used as therapy is an old concept, originating from China centuries even before Christ was born. Soon after, massage has been used in Egypt and India.

In the modern world, massage therapy is no longer as simple as using one’s hands; massage may be accomplished using different devices and massagers. Also, many types of massage now exist, such as Shiatsu, Swedish massage, reflexology, Rolfing, and many others.

 

How is massage used as a therapeutic modality for natural pain relief?

Usually, massage is not a stand-alone treatment for any type of pain. Massage therapy is often used in addition to other pain treatment modalities, serving as an adjunct in the attempt to overcome pain.

 

Which painful conditions were shown to benefit from massage therapy?

• Back pain. Massage therapy is shown to be beneficial for those suffering from low back pain of unknown causes. Evidence for this effect is actually strong, based on previous studies done on this topic.
• Shoulder pain. Massage can provide relief for shoulder pain, backed by moderate evidence based on previous research.
• Headaches. For headaches, massage may also provide a degree of natural pain relief. There is also moderately strong evidence for this.

Although massage therapy has been proven to provide relief in the above situations, there are conditions that have been shown to benefit only slightly from massage. Find out what these conditions are by reading the next post!