Pain relief can be achieved in a number of ways. Fortunately, in many cases pain medications and surgery can be avoided by the use of medical devices such as ultrasound and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) therapy, as well as home remedies like hot and cold treatment. One effective pain relieving treatment that is often overlooked is massage therapy.
Many people look at massage as a luxury or indulgence reserved for a special spa day. While massages can be a wonderful treat, they also can be therapeutic. In fact, many chronic pain sufferers have regular massages to relieve painful symptoms and athletes have long relied on massage to ease their aching muscles after a strenuous workout or athletic event. According to a survey by the American Massage Therapy Association, 75 percent of people who have received a massage have done so for medical or stress-related issues and the Mayo Clinic reports that massage is increasingly being offered along with standard medical treatment of many health conditions.
Massage therapy has been found to relieve pain from rheumatoid arthritis and migraines, and has been shown to reduce stress and improve sleep patterns in patients with cancer. Cardiac surgery patients who received massage therapy following surgery were shown to have less pain, anxiety, and muscular tension. Other conditions that seem to respond well to massage therapy include digestive disorders, fibromyalgia, nerve pain, soft tissue injuries, and temporomandibular joint pain.
There are several theories as to why massage therapy is so effective. Some believe that massage stimulates the release of certain chemicals in the body, such as serotonin or endorphins. Another theory is that massage causes mechanical changes in the body. Finally, the “gate control theory” postulates that massage therapy helps to block pain signals to the brain.
Unlike pain medications and surgery, the risk of side effects from massage therapy is low. The most common side effect is a feeling of soreness the following day. Rare side effects include internal bleeding, nerve damage, or temporary paralysis – but again, these are extremely uncommon. Massage isn’t for everyone, however, and should be avoided by anyone who has a bleeding disorder or is on blood-thinning medication; has any open wounds; suffers from deep vein thrombosis; has a fracture; or suffers from severe osteoporosis; or thrombocytopenia.
In the end, whether you are doing it for stress release, pain relief, or simply for some pampering and relaxation, one thing is for sure, massage therapy can help restore your feelings of health and well-being. And that is bound to make anyone feel better.